Child sexual abuse is a major concern of society because the physical and mental harm endured by children is extremely destructive. The effects can be long lasting and affect an entire family. Although it has been around for decades, perhaps even centuries, society is becoming increasingly more aware of sexual abuse and its impact on child victims. Child sexual abuse, often referred to as CSA, is not isolated to one demographic or social class. Children of many different backgrounds have been forced to engage in unwanted sexual behavior. In 2009, it was estimated that there were 39 million survivors of child sexual abuse in America (www.darkness2light.org). Many incidents go unreported due to factors such as shame or denial, which means current
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Research shows that there are many negative effects of CSA that can take away any chance of normal childhood development. Haunted by fear and anxiety, children can have a hard time coping with CSA because they are not ready for the sexual behavior that is forced upon them. Symptoms of nightmares, behavioral regression, depression, and isolation can trouble victims in childhood and continue into adulthood. Some victims even show symptoms similar to posttraumatic stress disorder because CSA is an extremely traumatic experience. The shame, guilt, or anxiety caused by CSA can put a strain on relationships and negatively influence other aspects of life such as self-esteem and social interactions. There are treatment methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoanalytical 6 therapy that have been proven to help victims cope and lead a healthy life after sexual abuse. Therapy for CSA victims tends to focus on shifting the blame back onto the offender to help the victim understand that he or she was not the cause of the …show more content…
The short-term and long-term side effects of CSA are real and extremely destructive. As demonstrated in this paper, there is deep and demonstrative research to prove that child sexual abuse is harmful, notwithstanding the examples and justifications used by pedophile organizations. No one can restore the innocence that a child loses when it is stolen by a pedophile. I gained a much better understanding of CSA through research which has definitely affected my outlook on sexual abuse and available treatment for victims. Most people are unaware of the consequences and psychological harm caused by CSA, but it is a serious problem. Children suffer from the aftermath of the abuse just as much as they suffer during the sexual abuse. It is comforting that since many treatment resources are available, children will not have to heal by themselves, but it is not fair for children to ever be exposed to such trauma. I feel that as public knowledge increases, there is hope that child sexual abuse can decrease as time continues. CSA is much less taboo today than it was years ago and the perverse acts of pedophiles are being exposed and confronted with
Research shows that there are many negative effects of CSA that can take away any chance of normal childhood development. Haunted by fear and anxiety, children can have a hard time coping with CSA because they are not ready for the sexual behavior that is forced upon them. Symptoms of nightmares, behavioral regression, depression, and isolation can trouble victims in childhood and continue into adulthood. Some victims even show symptoms similar to posttraumatic stress disorder because CSA is an extremely traumatic experience. The shame, guilt, or anxiety caused by CSA can put a strain on relationships and negatively influence other aspects of life such as self-esteem and social interactions. There are treatment methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychoanalytical 6 therapy that have been proven to help victims cope and lead a healthy life after sexual abuse. Therapy for CSA victims tends to focus on shifting the blame back onto the offender to help the victim understand that he or she was not the cause of the …show more content…
The short-term and long-term side effects of CSA are real and extremely destructive. As demonstrated in this paper, there is deep and demonstrative research to prove that child sexual abuse is harmful, notwithstanding the examples and justifications used by pedophile organizations. No one can restore the innocence that a child loses when it is stolen by a pedophile. I gained a much better understanding of CSA through research which has definitely affected my outlook on sexual abuse and available treatment for victims. Most people are unaware of the consequences and psychological harm caused by CSA, but it is a serious problem. Children suffer from the aftermath of the abuse just as much as they suffer during the sexual abuse. It is comforting that since many treatment resources are available, children will not have to heal by themselves, but it is not fair for children to ever be exposed to such trauma. I feel that as public knowledge increases, there is hope that child sexual abuse can decrease as time continues. CSA is much less taboo today than it was years ago and the perverse acts of pedophiles are being exposed and confronted with