Common Beliefs About Child Sexual Abuse and Disclosure: A College Sample

Abstract

Adults' common beliefs about child sexual abuse and disclosure were explored. Participants (N = 670) were questioned about key areas of child sexual abuse that could affect decision-making processes of jurors evaluating child sexual abuse cases. These areas included victim and perpetrator characteristics, medical and behavioral indicators of child sexual abuse, memories for the event, and disclosure of the event. The scientific literature pertaining to these same areas are reviewed. While individual beliefs were consistent with some areas of the scientific literature (e.g., victim and perpetrator characteristics), they strongly contrasted the literature in other important areas (e.g., memories for the event, indicators of child sexual abuse, and the likelihood of denial and recantation). Implications, including the option of providing expert testimony to reduce discrepancies, are discussed.

Memory judgements: the contribution of detail and emotion to assessments of believability and reliability

“…This finding is surprising given that the existing body of work highlights ubiquitous beliefs held regarding believability, detail and emotion (Benton, Ross, Bradshaw, Thomas & Bradshaw, 2006;Ernberg & Landström, 201;Ernberg, Tidefors, & Landström, 2016;Magnussen et al, 2006;McGuire & London, 2017;Ost, et al, 2017;Patihis et al, 2014;Simons & Chabris, 2011;Wessel, Eilertsen, Langnes, Magnussen, & Melinder, 2016;Wise & Safer, 2004). Based on our results it would appear then that these beliefs do not underlie judgements of believability.…”

“…For instance, studies have investigated general beliefs about memory across the US (Simons & Chabris, 2011) and Norwegian public (Magnussen et al, 2006), as well as research psychologists, clinical psychologists, hypnotherapists, undergraduates (Ost, Easton, Hope, French & Wright, 2017;Patihis, Ho, Tingen, Lillenfeld & Loftus, 2013), and legal professionals (Benton, Ross, Bradshaw, Thomas & Bradshaw, 2006; Wise & Safer, 2004). Beliefs about memories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) from the public (McGuire & London, 2017;Wessel, Eilertsen, Langnes, Magnussen, & Melinder, 2016), law students and specialist CSA prosecutors (Ernberg, Tidefors, & Landström, 2016) have received more recent attention. Results from this wide body of research constitute a wealth of evidence and converge towards a similar position: individuals who do not have specific understanding of the scientific underpinnings of memory are likely to hold a wide variety of beliefs.…”

“…It is often found that the public, police and legal professionals believe that memories recounted with congruent emotional affect are more credible than those recalled with incongruent emotional affect McGuire & London, 2017;Wessel et al, 2016). Incidentally however, Katz, Paddon, and Barnetz (2016) in a review of CSA interviews, found that the majority of CSA disclosure by children is neutral or non-emotional.…”

Mock Jurors’ Perceptions of Child Sexual Abuse Cases: Investigating the Role of Delayed Disclosure and Relationship to the Perpetrator

“…Research reports glean evidence that most jury-eligible adults recognize sexually abused children often delay or fail to come forward with allegations of abuse (McGuire & London, 2017; Quas et al, 2005). When contrasted with the extant data on delayed disclosure (Miller & London, 2020), potential jurors overestimate rather than underestimate the extent to which children delay disclosure (McGuire & London, 2017). Stated simply, potential jurors believe that children delay abuse allegations to a greater extent than found in the scientific literature.…”

“…In a survey of 317 college student and jury pool participants, 84% indicated children may not disclose right away (Quas et al, 2005). McGuire and London (2017) surveyed 670 college students and found only 1.6% of participants indicated sexually abused children would tell right away, and 32% expressed children likely would delay disclosure until adulthood. Thus, extant research demonstrates that many potential jurors hold beliefs about delayed disclosure that are consistent with the CSA literature.…”