TY - JOUR
T1 - Dimensions of Child Sexual Abuse Allegations
T2 - What is Unusual and What is Not?
AU - O'Donohue, William
AU - Benuto, Lorraine T.
AU - Fondren, Rachel N.
AU - Tolle, Lauren
AU - Vijay, Aditi
AU - Fanetti, Matthew
PY - 2013/10
Y1 - 2013/10
N2 - Summit claimed via his child sexual abuse accomodation syndrome (CSAAS) that children often (a) recant; (b) make disclosures that are unconvincing (i.e., "illogical" and "incredible"); (c) make contradictory claims; and (d) make delayed claims. In this study, 97 substantiated cases of child sexual abuse were examined for both the key properties outlined by Summit and also for other key properties that have been discussed by experts. Results indicate that some of the key properties of CSASS (recantation and contradictions) are rare in substantiated cases. While delayed claims were common, the delays in this sample were generally shorter than proposed in CSAAS. Results also revealed that allegations rarely contained logistical implausibilities, impoverished details, a stake factor, strange elements in the context of the outcry, fantastical details, or reports of repressed memories.
AB - Summit claimed via his child sexual abuse accomodation syndrome (CSAAS) that children often (a) recant; (b) make disclosures that are unconvincing (i.e., "illogical" and "incredible"); (c) make contradictory claims; and (d) make delayed claims. In this study, 97 substantiated cases of child sexual abuse were examined for both the key properties outlined by Summit and also for other key properties that have been discussed by experts. Results indicate that some of the key properties of CSASS (recantation and contradictions) are rare in substantiated cases. While delayed claims were common, the delays in this sample were generally shorter than proposed in CSAAS. Results also revealed that allegations rarely contained logistical implausibilities, impoverished details, a stake factor, strange elements in the context of the outcry, fantastical details, or reports of repressed memories.
KW - child sexual abuse
KW - child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome
KW - recantation
KW - repressed memories
KW - sexual abuse
KW - sexual abuse allegations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84887131196&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15228932.2013.838103
DO - 10.1080/15228932.2013.838103
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84887131196
SN - 1522-8932
VL - 13
SP - 456
EP - 475
JO - Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice
JF - Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice
IS - 5
ER -