Criminal PsychologyCriminal Psychology

Chapter 8Chapter 8

Child Sexual AbuseChild Sexual Abuse

TalbotTalbot

Kellogg Community CollegeKellogg Community College

The McMartin Preschool CaseThe McMartin Preschool Case 19831983 2 ½ year old boy2 ½ year old boy 200 parents were sent letters.200 parents were sent letters. 400 children were assessed with 350 400 children were assessed with 350

being suspected of having been abused.being suspected of having been abused. ““1984 – Preliminary hearing (17 months)1984 – Preliminary hearing (17 months) 1990 – Providers were acquitted on all 1990 – Providers were acquitted on all

charges.charges.

IssuesIssues

What does this case highlight?

Child Abuse StatisticsChild Abuse Statistics Fiction

Batterers are psychopathic personalities. Batterers will stop once they get married. If a batterer is not hitting the child, he/she

is not hurting the child. Police can protect the battered woman. Drinking causes battering. Battered women are uneducated. Batterers are unsuccessful.

Roles of the Psychologist

Diagnostic in nature as it relates to the perpetrator. Sexual Paraphilia

Pedophilia

Pedophilia Diagnostic criteria for 302.2 PedophiliaDiagnostic criteria for 302.2 Pedophilia

(cautionary statement)  (cautionary statement)   A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies,

sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger). children (generally age 13 years or younger). 

B. The person has acted on these urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause B. The person has acted on these urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.

C. The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or C. The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A. children in Criterion A. 

Note:Note: Do not include an individual in late adolescence involved in an ongoing sexual Do not include an individual in late adolescence involved in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 12- or 13-year-old. relationship with a 12- or 13-year-old. 

SpecifySpecify if:  if:  Sexually Attracted to Males Sexually Attracted to Males 

Sexually Attracted to Females Sexually Attracted to Females Sexually Attracted to Both Sexually Attracted to Both 

SpecifySpecify if: if: Limited to Incest Limited to Incest  SpecifySpecify type:  type:  Exclusive Type (attracted only to children) Exclusive Type (attracted only to children) 

Nonexclusive TypeNonexclusive Type

Implications of this diagnosis?Implications of this diagnosis?

Roles of the Psychologist

Evaluation of the child/ Adult for the presence of abuse.

How?

Roles of the Psychologist

Evaluation of the child/ Adult – assessing allegations.

Interviewing technique dangers (Wood et. al.)

Is content analysis the key?

Criteria for analyzing content (19 total)– Criteria for analyzing content (19 total)– Marxsen, Yuille and Nisbet (1995)Marxsen, Yuille and Nisbet (1995)

1.1. Coherence: Does the statement make sense?Coherence: Does the statement make sense?2.2. Spontaneous reproduction: Rigid and rehearsed or Spontaneous reproduction: Rigid and rehearsed or

spontaneous?spontaneous?3.3. Sufficient detail: Is there the same amount of detail given Sufficient detail: Is there the same amount of detail given

in discussing the abusive event as non-abusive events?in discussing the abusive event as non-abusive events?4.4. Contextual imbedding: Is the account imbedded in a Contextual imbedding: Is the account imbedded in a

distinct time and space?distinct time and space?5.5. Descriptions of interactionsDescriptions of interactions

6. Reproduction of conversation: Verbatim?

7. Unexpected complications during the incident?

8. Unusual details for a child to have made up?

9. Peripheral details?10. Accurate reported details

misunderstood?11. Self-deprecation?12. Pardoning the perpetrator?13. Details characteristic of

the act the may not be common knowledge to a child?

How can the procedures be improved?

Use language which___________________________.

Refrain from________________________. Thorough _______________________.

Determination of Competency

1. Age?2. Assessment of the child?

Children’s Rights During Testimony Goal of the attorneys?

Use of screens or closed circuit TV in order to testify. Not upheld by the Supreme Court.