A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse

This decade review of scientific knowledge about the problem of child sexual abuse integrates as much of the current interdisciplinary literature as possible, both unpublished and recently published, with the older literature. The authors consider five main topics--prevalence of sexual abuse, children at high risk, offenders, effects, and prevention. The book reviews findings from community survey studies which shed light on how widespread sexual abuse is in the population at large and which groups of children are at greatest risk. It also reports on the prison studies concerning why it is that offenders offend and examines all the studies from clinical literature which try to determine what the long-term effects of sexual abuse are on victims. In addition, the book contains a valuable chapter on research design which makes suggestions that every potential investigator in this field needs to be familiar with. The book is written in a clear, organized fashion and addresses the most pressing issues in the field of sexual abuse at the current time. "I consider David Finkelhor to be the best and most knowledgeable researcher in child sexual abuse in the United States today. A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse has added immeasurably to the scientific quality of this field." --Diana E. H. Russell, Mills College, Oakland, California "Finkelhor′s ability to cut through the jargon of published research and sort out the meaningful findings is an invaluable help to clinicians in identifying issues in their work." --Gail Ryan, Adolescent Perpetrator Network "Unique, up-to-the-minute, and indispensable for anyone who needs to understand what is known and not known about sexual abuse." --Murray A. Straus, University of New Hampshire "Finkelhor and his associates have been in the forefront during the last decade in challenging western society with impeccable research into the prevalence of sexual abuse. A succinct comparative array of research material and findings . . . the student is provided with a bible which will serve well as a guide through the minefield of often contradictory literature on child sexual abuse." --Social Work Education "Finkelhor and his colleagues have provided a book that exemplifies social science research at its best. This sourcebook is thoughtful and knowledgeable, without being patronizing or condescending to the practitioners who must act on a day-to-day basis. ....