Sexually Abused Children and Their Violent Behaviors

RESEARCH QUESTION: Relationship between sexually exploited or abused children and their demonstration of violent behavior.

-       Aashna Agrawal, final year psychology undergraduate at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University 

hild sexual abuse (CSA) has been the subject of a great deal of empirical research over the last several decades. Child sexual abuse can be defined as “forced or coerced sexual behavior imposed on a child” or as “sexual activity between a child and a much older person whether or not obvious coercion is involved” (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986, p. 66). 

A string of literature has found sexual abuse in early childhood to be associated with violence in adulthood. A report by Cornwall & Isle of Scilly Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures posits that in the long term people who have been sexually abused are more likely to become involved in criminal behaviour and misuse drugs and alcohol.

A review by Castro A., et al., (2019) explored Childhood Sexual Abuse, Sexual Behavior, and Revictimization in Adolescence and Youth. The review finds that across literature, having suffered some episode of CSA has been linked to aggressive behaviour, in addition to poorer psychological functioning (Senn et al., 2008; Homma et al., 2012), interpersonal problems, educational difficulties, or increased use of alcohol and other drugs (Clark et al., 2007). Some research also states that approximately one-third of abused children will eventually victimize their children (Gupta S., et al., 2020). 

Several studies have reported that children who are sexually abused are significantly more physically aggressive than children who are not (Cosentino et al. 1993; Dubowitz et al. 1993; Gomes-Schwartz, Horowitz, and Cardarelli 1990; Mannarino et al. 1991). A meta-analysis of studies of the effects of child sexual abuse found that such victimization accounted for 43 percent of the variance in measures of aggression when comparing abused and nonabused children (Kendall-Tackett, Williams, and Finkelhor 1993).

Important insights into child sexual abuse is also provided by Briere J., et al., (1994) in their work “Immediate and Long-term impacts of Child Sexual abuse”. The paper explored the various consequences of child sexual abuse. It posits that one of the by-products of CSA was that of anger. Chronic irritability, unexpected or uncontrollable feeling of anger and difficulties associated with the expression of anger was reported by child victims (Friedrich, W.N. et al., 1998). Such feelings can either be internalised, or externalised resulting in perpetration of abuse against others (Carmen E.J., 1984). In children, anger is frequently expressed in behavioural problems, with abused children and adolescents displaying significantly more difficulties in this area than what is found typically in the general population (Einbender., A.J., 1989). These suggest that the children’s aggressiveness toward others- commonly expressed as fighting, bullying, or attacking other children- is a frequent short term sequel of sexual molestation. Research on adult sexual abuse survivors have also shown to score higher on measures of anger and irritability than do adults without childhood sexual abuse histories (Hooper J., et al., 1993). 

A study by Hussey, Chang, and Kotch (2006) and Swanston et al. (2003) also found that CSA victims have higher rates of aggression towards others. Specifically, Hussey et al. (2006) report that children who had a history of sexual abuse victimization were more likely to get into fights and to injure others to the point that medical attention was required.

Gender differences

Gender differences in the impact of CSA have also been found. The likelihood of victimization appears to be greater for females than for males (Douglas & Finkelhor, 2005; Finkelhor et al., 2008).            The ones most often noted are along the dimensions called "internalizing" and "externalizing" (Friedrich, Urquiza, & Beilke, 1986; Friedrich, Beilke, & Urquiza, 1987,1988). Boys are more often reported to be acting aggressively, such as fighting with siblings (Gomes-Schwartz, Horowitz, & Cardarelli, 1990; Tufts, 1984), and girls are more often reported to be acting depressed (Conte et. al., 1986).                       

In another study, Urquiza and Crowley (1986), comparing male and female college students who had suffered abuse in childhood, also found that there were relatively few differences. There were only three differences across all the measures. Women were somewhat more likely to be depressed, and men were more likely to express a desire to hurt others and a sexual interest in children. This last difference is very interesting, because Urquiza has been one of very few investigators to ask a sample of victims about their sexual interest in children. Twenty-five percent of the male victims said they had had some kind of sexual fantasies involving children (vs. 9% of the non victimized men and 3% of the victimized women), and 13% indicated a desire to fondle or engage in sexual activities with a child (vs. 6% of non victimized men and 4% of the victimized women). This clearly supports the hypothesis that male victims may be at higher risk for becoming abusers. In another study, Chandy et al. (1996) found that male CSA victims were more likely to commit criminal and deviant acts than female CSA victims.

Violent crime rates and delinquency                                                          

Several researchers also found a correlation between CSA and violent crimes. For example, histories of sexual abuse have figured in the backgrounds of aggressive women observed in qualitative studies. Baskin and Sommers’s (1998) life history interviews with 170 violent female felons revealed that 36 percent reported having been sexually abused by a member of their immediate family and 26 percent by a member of their extended family. The histories recounted in Artz’s (1999) ethnographic study of violent girls in Canada likewise revealed backgrounds that include sexual abuse at home. Self-reports obtained from interviews of adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the present sample revealed extensive reports of physically aggressive behavior (Siegel 2000). 

Research by Siegel J., et al.,  in the paper titled “relationship between childhood sexul abuse and female delinquency and crime” found that sexual abuse victims were significantly more likely to have been arrested for violent crimes throughout their lives. It further states that several studies have also previously found that abused children are significantly more aggressive than non abused children (Kendall-Tackett, et al., 1993).  Another research by Cuadra L., et al.,  published by the Univeristy of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Psychology, showed that child sexual abuse was inversely related to all other criminal offenses (violent nonsexual and nonviolent), suggesting some specificity of outcomes associated with this form of maltreatment.          

CSA victims not only participate in criminal behaviors but also in other maladaptive behaviors. Children who were sexually abused exhibit maladaptive behaviors, such as delinquency, and display a significantly greater number of behavioral problems than children who were not abused (Friedrich, Beilke, & Urquiza, 1987). Chandy, Blum, and Resnick (1996) found that a greater proportion of teenagers who had been sexually abused reported involvement in several crimes, such as vandalism, hitting others, fighting, stealing, forcing sex, and prostitution, as well as deviant behaviors such as cheating in school compared to those who had not been sexually abused. 

While most CSA victims do not become delinquents or adult criminals, the rates of CSA in inmate populations tend to be much higher than rates of CSA in the general population (Fondacaro, Holt, & Powell, 1999). Smith (1988) found that between 19 and 32% of juvenile offenders had been victims of sexual abuse while Fondacaro et al. (1999) found that over 40% of prisoners in the study met the standard criteria for being victims of CSA with an average age of abuse of 10.4 years. Wijkman, Bijleveld, and Hendriks (2010) found that of women who were incarcerated for sexual offenses, 31% had been sexually abused themselves. Other studies have also indicated that individuals who have experienced some form of sexual abuse as children were at an increased risk of coming into contact with the justice system either as a juvenile or adult (Darby, Allan, & Kashani, 1998; Felson & Lane, 2009; Gover, 2004). Haapasalo and Kankkonen (1997) found that incarcerated sex offenders were more likely to have experienced CSA than non-sexual violent offenders who were also incarcerated. 

Additionally, an op-ed published by Los Angeles Time (2019) explored the common characteristics of mass school shooters since 1996. The review states, “the vast majority of mass shooters in our study experienced early childhood trauma and exposure to violence at a young age. The nature of their exposure included parental suicide, physical or sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and/or severe bullying.”                       

A report by Detroit news explored the link between childhood trauma and school shootings (2019). The researchers, from the Violence Project, spent the past two years reviewing the life histories of mass shooters. A common link found between all such shooters was the presence of abuse during childhood- while no direct causal link was found, there was anecdotal evidence that a relationshup exists between childhood trauma and different types of violence- espeically sexual abuse. Persons with childhood trauma, particularly related to witnessing sexual abuse as an adolescent, may themselves be perpetrators of sexual abuse as adults. A similar phenomenon may be taking place with violence. However, this warrants research.       

Summary of the major findings: 

The present review explored the relationship between CSA and demonstration of violent behaviour. The following were the major findings: 

●      Many researchers have established a link between CSA and demonstration of violence, whether it is through short-term maladaptive behaviour like hitting others and display of aggression, or delinquency and violent crimes in adulthood. 

●      Gender differences in the display of violent behaviour has also been reported- male victims of CSA were more likely to engage in acts of violence and aggression than females (even though there are more cases of reported female childhood sexual abuse than men)

●      Many researchers also showed a strong link between CSA and the victims’ propensity to become sexual abusers, engage in prostitution and increased promiscuous behaviour as children and adults. 

REFERENCES (APA STYLE) 

●      Castro, Á., Ibáñez, J., Maté, B., Esteban, J., & Barrada, J. R. (2019). Childhood Sexual Abuse, Sexual Behavior, and Revictimization in Adolescence and Youth: A Mini Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 10.doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02018

●      Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment. (n.d.). Proceduresonline. https://www.proceduresonline.com/swcpp/cornwall_scilly/p_cse_fam_environ.html#4.-issues

●      Cosentino, C. E., H. F. L. Meyer-Bahlburg, J. L. Albert, and R. Gaines. 1993. “Cross-Gender Behavior and Gender Conflict in Sexually Abused Girls.” Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 32:940-47.            

●      Cuadra, Lorraine E.; Jaffe, Anna E.; Thomas, Renu; and DiLillo, David, "Child maltreatment and adult criminal behavior: Does criminal thinking explain the association?" (2014). Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology. 652. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/652       

●      Densley, J. P. A. J. (2019, August 5). Op-Ed: Nearly all mass shooters have 4 things in common. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-08-04/el-paso-dayton-gilroy-mass-shooters-data                                                                  

●      Elliott, D.M., and Briere,J. Forensic sexual abuse evaluations in older children: Disclosures and symptomatology. Behavioral Sciences and the Law. In press. 

●      Finkelhor, D. Early and Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse: An Update. (1990) Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 21 (5), pp. 325-330.

●      Gupta, S., & Garg, D. S. (2020). Causes and Effects of Child Sexual Abuse. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 5(5), 1867–1870. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt20may650

●      Key messages from research on looked-after children and child sexual abuse. (n.d.). CSA Centre. https://www.csacentre.org.uk/resources/key-messages/looked-after-children/

●      McGrath, S. A., Nilsen, A. A., & Kerley, K. R. (2011). Sexual victimization in childhood and the propensity for juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior: A systematic review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 16(6), 485–492. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2011.03.008

●      Papalia, N., Ogloff, J. R. P., Cutajar, M., & Mullen, P. E. (2018). Child Sexual Abuse and Criminal Offending: Gender-Specific Effects and the Role of Abuse Characteristics and Other Adverse Outcomes. Child Maltreatment, 107755951878577. doi:10.1177/1077559518785779

●      Rick Murdock, The Detroit News. (2019, October 4). Opinion: Link between shootings and childhood trauma warrants research. The Detroit News. https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2019/08/19/opinion-link-between-shootings-and-childhood-trauma-warrants-research/2022494001/

●      Swanston, H. Y. (2003). Juvenile Crime, Aggression and Delinquency After Sexual Abuse: A Longitudinal Study. British Journal of Criminology, 43(4), 729–749. doi:10.1093/bjc/43.4.729 

●      Siegel, Jane A. 2000. “Aggressive Behavior among Women Sexually Abused as Children.” Violence and Victims 15:235-55.