Analyzing the scientific foundation of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome: A reply to Lyon et al.

London, Kamala; Bruck, Maggie; Miller, Quincy C.; Ceci, Stephen J.

doi:10.1002/bsl.2489

Cited by 9 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Victims of (child) sexual abuse might deny their traumatic experiences. While there is currently a discussion surrounding the prevalence of false denials in child sexual abuse investigations (London et al., 2020; Lyon et al., 2020), there is agreement that children often delay disclosure, and might initially deny that any abuse took place before coming forward (Eisen et al., 2021; London et al., 2020). When they eventually talk about the abuse, these victim's memory statements serve as important pieces of evidence in court and can influence decisions surrounding culpability (Romeo et al., 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating denial increases false memory rates for abuse unrelated information

Bücken

Mangiulli

Otgaar

2022

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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Victims of abuse might deny their traumatic experiences.We studied mnemonic effects of simulating false denial of a child sexual abuse narrative. Participants (N = 127) read and empathized with the main character of this narrative.Next, half were instructed to falsely deny abuse-related information while others responded honestly in an interview. One week later, participants received misinformation for the narrative and interview. In a final source memory task, participants' memory for the narrative and interview was tested. Participants who falsely denied abuse-related information endorsed more abuse-unrelated misinformation about the event than honest participants. Abuse-related false memory rates did not statistically differ between the groups, and false denials were not related to omission errors about (1) the interview and (2) narrative. Hence, victim's memory for abuse-related information related to their experience might not be affected by a false denial, and inconsistencies surrounding the abuse-unrelated information are more likely to take place.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating denial increases false memory rates for abuse unrelated information

Bücken

Mangiulli

Otgaar

2022

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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“…In New Jersey v. J.L.G. (2018), the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that delayed disclosure of CSA is within the ken of potential jurors, and unless extraordinary circumstances are met, the child themself can explain why they may have delayed reporting (Lyon et al, 2020; see also; London et al, 2020). Moreover, the present study’s findings demonstrate that mock jurors’ assessments of CSA cases are sensitive to length of delayed disclosure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Miller

Call

London

2022

J Interpers Violence

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Child sexual abuse (CSA) claims brought forward weeks, months, or years after the alleged events are commonplace, yet the trial-level ramifications of delayed disclosure remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the influence of length of delayed disclosure (1 day, 1 month, 10 months) as a function of the victim-perpetrator relationship (next-door neighbor, stepfather) on mock jurors’ perceptions of a CSA case. Jury-eligible participants (N = 328) read a mock trial summary describing an alleged incident of CSA between an adult male defendant and a seven-year-old female victim. Participants then rendered various case judgments. When length of delay was 10 months versus 1 day, mock jurors rendered fewer guilty verdicts and lower ratings of victim trustworthiness, believability, memory strength, and memory accuracy. Effects of length of delay varied as a function of the victim-perpetrator relationship, but only when the perpetrator was the victim’s next-door neighbor versus stepfather. When the perpetrator was the victim’s next-door neighbor, participants rated the likelihood of abuse as higher and the victim’s memory as stronger with shorter versus longer lengths of delay. Delay did not vary as a function of the victim-perpetrator relationship when the perpetrator was the victim’s stepfather. Findings have implications for trial-level safeguards (e.g., expert testimony) in CSA cases involving delayed disclosure.

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“…Lastly and most importantly, many of the studies did not specify how, or even whether, the children were questioned about abuse. Evidently, children cannot deny abuse if they were never questioned about it and in several of the studies reviewed by Lyon (2007), it could not be determined whether children themselves were questioned or not (London et al, 2020). Therefore, the prevalence rates of denials reported by Lyon (2007) are likely an overestimation of denial rates among children who come before contemporary forensic interviewers.…”

Section: Methodological Issues In Estimating the Prevalence Of False ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During investigations concerning abuse, children's reports made during forensic interviews typically comprise the central evidence in the case (Leander, 2010; London et al, 2020; Lyon et al, 2020), since typically no physical evidence is present (Lamb et al, 2011, but see also Herman, 2010). For example, in cases of suspected physical maltreatment, a child's statements are needed to clarify whether they broke their wrist when falling off their bicycle or when their father kicked them during a fight.…”

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confidence: 99%

‘Nothing happened’: Legal implications of false denials among abused children

et al. 2022

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People lie on a frequent basis. However, when a victim of maltreatment lies by denying the abuse, lies can become forensically relevant. We have reviewed the relevant literature on the prevalence and memory consequences of such false denials. The way forensic interviewers proceed in the face of denying children will be shaped by their beliefs about the frequency with which truly abused children deny abuse. We discuss that estimates of the prevalence of false denials among abused children vary but that such false denials do happen. When falsely denying children eventually come forward with their experiences, a second issue lingers: how valid are maltreated children's statements after a false denial? We review the literature indicating that false denials can negatively affect memory for the investigative interview during which the lie was told. Yet, memory for the denied experience itself seems to be mostly preserved, and some research even found potential protective effects of false denials. We conclude that denials should always be handled with care in the court room, since the ground truth usually is not known, but that statements should not be dismissed based solely on previous denials.

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Analyzing the scientific foundation of Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome: A reply to Lyon et al.

Cited by 9 publications

References 9 publications

Simulating denial increases false memory rates for abuse unrelated information

Simulating denial increases false memory rates for abuse unrelated information

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

‘Nothing happened’: Legal implications of false denials among abused children

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