The issue of Childhood Sexual Experiences (CSEs) is highly controversial, and has generated considerable disagreement and conflict. Such experiences are often framed as child sexual abuse (CSA) within a discourse of child maltreatment. Sexual activity between adults and young children is indeed abuse, and fully merits the moral stance taken by therapists, health professionals and society. However, Childhood Sexual Experiences presents evidence that viewing all CSEs through the same prism of abuse, victimhood and commonly-held perceptions of gender socialisation may not always allow those affected to tell the whole story. Not all those who experienced sexual activity as children view themselves as victims, believe that their experiences had a profoundly or irrevocably negative impact on their lives, or view their experiences as 'abusive'. Others do not want their identities to be linked to specific events in childhood. Applying a positive psychology approach, Childhood Sexual Experiences recounts and explores the stories of those who have shown an ability to come to terms with or overcome the difficulties that they have faced, exploring the insights these narratives of resilience present to therapists and health and social care professionals. 'I would encourage you to read this book with an open mind and to look for the strength and determination to be found in these narratives, remembering that those who are resilient may teach us how better to help those who are less fortunate.' - Sally V

Making a unique contribution of placing the current sexual exploitation of children and adolescents firmly in its historical context, this book looks at the family's and society's roles in child and adolescent sex abuse. Unlike most previous studies, this study allows a range of responses from negative to positive and avoids the methodological problems inherent in many other studies. Most studies combine the age groups of children and adolescents, whereas this study separates these different age groups and compares the nature and outcome of sexual experiences of children with those of adolescents. Utilizing sophisticated analytical measures, the author's findings repudiate many commonly held assumptions and serve to calm current hysteria regarding sexual abuse of minors. Written to disseminate findings that could be helpful in realistically confronting the phenomenon of human sexuality, the results presented in this book dispel many current myths about early sexuality, including ethnic differences. The author wanted to separate scientific inquiry from the perpetration of pervading mores or social norms, and identify the real menaces to healthy adult functioning.

Essays on the sexual abuse of children in the Catholic Church.

A practical guide to interviewing patients about sexual matters with suggested questions, guidelines for the assessment and treatment of common sexual problems, and guidelines for referral. It incorporates sample questions and case histories for a more clinical focus. * Includes case histories throughout, guiding you through history-taking and the physical exam. * Contains specific questions to ask when a patient reveals a problem (and special techniques to use with patients who seem reluctant to talk). * Presents up-to-date information on suggested treatments, including Viagra.

This report is based on a survey of the childhood experiences and attitudes to child rearing in a representative sample of 1032 adults aged 18-45 years. It reviews the research literature on child rearing and outlines the findings on relationships, experiences of discipline, punishment and physical abuse in the family and sexual abuse within and outside the family. The relationship between childhood experience and present day behaviour towards children illustrates how, across three generations, people who were punished and abused in childhood are more likely to perpetuate the punishment and abuse of children today. The report discusses the implications of the findings for the care and protection of children.