Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Most victims and perpetrators know each other. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder. While efforts to treat sex offenders remain unpromising, psychological interventions for survivors — especially group therapy — appears effective.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
What You Can Do
- Open Up! Writing About Trauma Reduces Stress, Aids ImmunityWriting about difficult, even traumatic, experiences appears to be good for health on several levels - raising immunity and other health measures and improving life functioning.
- Tips for recovering from disasters and other traumatic eventsUnderstanding the emotions and normal responses that follow a disaster or other traumatic event can help you cope with your feelings, thoughts and behaviors – and can help you on the path to recovery.
- Understanding Child Sexual AbuseChildren and adolescents who have been sexually abused can suffer a range of psychological and behavioral problems, from mild to severe, in both the short and long term. Counseling and support services are important for both the children affected and the caregivers responsible for the abused children.
- Child sexual abuse: What parents should knowInformation for parents and caretakers on the warning signs and treatment options for child sexual abuse.
Getting Help
- Find a Psychologist
- The Effects of Trauma Do Not Have to Last a LifetimeMost people will experience a trauma at some point in their lives, and as a result, some will experience debilitating symptoms that interfere with daily life. The good news is that psychological interventions are effective in preventing many long-term effects.
News
- Child sexual abuse: Painful story, but little healingJune 28, 2011, The Seattle Times
- Silence lifted: The untold stories of rape during the HolocaustJune 24, 2011, CNN
- Marchers aim to debunk sexual assault stereotypesMay 6, 2011, Reuters
Monitor on Psychology Articles
- ‘I swore I’d never tell’October 2010
- Porn use and child abuseDecember 2009
- Champion of the innocentDecember 2009
- Does proximity to schools tempt former sex offenders?September 2008
Books
- Talking About Sexual AssaultMarch 2010
- Sex OffendingJanuary 2008
- Health Consequences of Abuse in the FamilyNovember 2003
- From Child Sexual Abuse to Adult Sexual RiskOctober 2003
Parenting
Parenting practices around the world share three major goals: ensuring children’s health and safety, preparing children for life as productive adults and transmitting cultural values. A high-quality parent-child relationship is critical for healthy development.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of PsychologyWhat You Can Do
- Changing diet and exercise for kidsWhen it comes to establishing healthy habits, you can teach children how to Act Boldly to Change Diet and Exercise (A.B.C.D.E.)
- Facing the School Dropout DilemmaThis article seeks to complement and supplement the APA resolution on school dropout prevention with data from more recent research on child development, early childhood education, and social and emotional learning that helps to define the school dropout dilemma.
- Confronting childhood obesityTips and resources for parents about helping their children make better decisions about what they eat to prevent childhood obesity.
- Communication tips for parentsParenting is hard work, but there are things you can do to maintain a good connection with your children and keep the lines of communication open.
- Single parenting and today's familyLife in a single parent household - though common - can be quite stressful for the adult and the children.
- Parenting: The teen yearsThe teen years pose some of the most difficult challenges for families. Teenagers, dealing with hormone changes and an ever-complex world, may feel that no one can understand their feelings, especially parents. As a result, the teen may feel angry, alone and confused while facing complicated issues about identity, peers, sexual behavior, drinking and drugs.
- Parents and Caregivers Are Essential to Children’s Healthy DevelopmentParents and caregivers make sure children are healthy and safe, equip them with the skills and resources to succeed as adults, and transmit basic cultural values to them.
- Staying connected: A guide for parents on raising an adolescent daughterTake a look at this informative brochure that covers topics including: puberty, peer groups, self-esteem, sexuality, mood swings, rebellion, and much more.
- ParentingA collection of research studies with a real-world applications, designed to help parents foster high-quality relationships with their children.
Getting Help
News
- Working mothers and the effects on childrenJuly 21, 2011, ScienceDaily
- Technology may not causing collapse of family lifeJuly 5, 2011, The Wall Street Journal
- I like one child more than the otherJuly 5, 2011, CNN
- Parents caught spanking children on audiotape real timeJune 30, 2011, ABC News
- One-quarter of gay couples raising childrenJune 23, 2011, ABC News
- Roughhousing with dad crucial for developmentJune 17, 2011, ABC News
Money
With Americans confronting especially challenging economic times, it’s not surprising that money tops the list of sources of significant stress in their lives.
Even children aren’t immune from financial worries. While only 18 percent of parents believe that money is a source of stress for their children, 30 percent of youth say they’re worried about their family having enough money.
Adapted from APA’s 2009 Stress in America surveyWhat You Can Do
- Managing your stress in tough economic timesUse these tips to help deal with stress about money and the economy.
- Staying resilient through tough economic timesMaking connections, looking for opportunities and other strategies can help foster resilience.
- Dollars and sense: Talking to your children about the economyOpen communication and age-appropriate information are key to reducing children’s stress.
- Having a Healthy Summer on a BudgetCutting back on family budgets doesn’t have to mean cutting back on fun.
Getting Help
News
- Suicide 'link' to money problemsJuly 8, 2011, BBC News
- Financial rejection: When wealth is uncomfortableJuly 7, 2011, Fox Business
- Too many options can impair ability to choose 401KJuly 3, 2011, Medical News Today
- Freedom more important to happiness than wealthJune 26, 2011, USA TODAY
- Does poverty erode free will?June 10, 2011, The Boston Globe
- Young adults sometimes see debt as a positiveJune 9, 2011, US News & World Report
HIV & AIDS
More than 1.1 million Americans have HIV, with more than 56,000 new infections contracted each year. An estimated 12 percent of new HIV infections each year are directly attributable to injection drug use.
The development of effective medications has lessened the psychological impact of an HIV/AIDS diagnosis for many people. In fact, most HIV-infected people — especially gay men with good social support and access to medical care — don’t suffer from sustained, severe distress.
In addition to helping individuals who are distressed, psychologists are studying ways to change people’s behavior and prevent people from contracting the disease in the first place.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)What You Can Do
- Chronic illnessLearn how to manage the uncertainty, stressful lifestyle changes and day-to-day difficulties that a chronic illness can bring.
- Coping with serious illnessQuestions and answers about addressing psychological as well as physical issues.
Getting Help
- Find a Psychologist
- How to help a friend or loved one suffering from a chronic illnessLearn how to give patients and their families the support they need.
News
- More access to AIDS drugs is urgedJuly 18, 2011, Boston Globe
- Research sheds light on cause of brain deficits in HIV patientsJune 28, 2011, U.S. News & World Report
- AIDS drugs can cause premature ageingJune 26, 2011, Reuters
- UN drive to cut HIV in newbornsJune 10, 2011, BBC News
- HIV todayJune 5, 2011, CNN
- UN urges more funds for HIV drugsJune 4, 2011, BBC News
Abortion
Abortion, the medical or surgical termination of a pregnancy, is one of the oldest, most common and most controversial medical procedures. One controversy centers on whether abortion harms women psychologically.Adapted from the Report of the APA Task Force on Mental Health and AbortionResearch on Mental Health and Abortion
- Mental Health and AbortionThis research review found no evidence that a single abortion harms a woman’s mental health. It also found that women who report distress post-abortion typically have other risk factors for mental health problems, such as substance abuse, poverty or exposure to domestic violence. The evidence regarding the relative mental health risks associated with multiple abortions is less clear; the report recommends further study in this area.
Getting Help
News
- More states crack down on late-term abortionsJuly 24, 2011, Boston Globe
- Russians adopt U.S. tactics in opposing abortionJune 10, 2011, The New York Times
Kids & the media
Kids and the media is a growing concern. Even very young children in our society get a big daily dose of television, video games and music lyrics. While such media can provide education and entertainment, they can also damage children. Research shows that exposure to violent media can result in aggressive attitudes and violent behavior in some children and adolescents.
Adapted from “Media violence and children” (ACT Against Violence)Understanding Media's Impact on Children
- The impact of food advertising on childhood obesityResearch has found strong associations between increases in advertising for non-nutritious foods and rates of childhood obesity.
- Violence in the Media - Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful EffectsDecades of psychological research confirms that media violence can increase aggression.
- U.S. children: overweight and oversexed?Psychologists decry the cultural and marketing trends that are undermining children's mental—and physical—health.
Getting Help
News
- Parents urged to check video games for violenceJuly 17, 2011, USA TODAY
- Curbing kids' screen time is hardJuly 7, 2011, Reuters
- Technology may not causing collapse of family lifeJuly 5, 2011, The Wall Street Journal
- Does the media reward bad behavior with more attention?June 17, 2011, Fox News
- Minority youth consume more media than white counterpartsJune 11, 2011, Psych Central
Ethics
Ethics are the standards that members of a profession must follow. In psychology, APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct lays out standards for psychologists and identifies behaviors that deserve punishment. The code includes sections on clinical practice, research and publication.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of PsychologyWhat You Can Do
- Potential ethical violationsKnow your rights and your psychologist's responsibilities, so that you and your psychologist can work together to avoid problems.
Getting Help
News
Monitor on Psychology Articles
- More than one-fifth of graduate students have Googled clients, study suggestsOctober 2010
- Reproductive care goes globalJanuary 2010
- A terminally ill patient's last requestNovember 2009
- Termination and abandonment: A key ethical distinctionSeptember 2009
Marriage and DivorceKey terms in this topic:
- Cohabitation – when a couple live together but are not married
- Illegitimate children – children whose parents were not married when they were born
- Monogamy – this means that a person can only be married to one person at a time
- Bigamy – is against the law. This is when a person is married to more than one person at the same time
- Divorce – is the legal end to a marriage
- Separation – when a couple live apart but are still legally married
- Empty shell marriages – when a couple are still married and live in the same house but lead separate lives
- Serial monogamy – when a person has a series of marriages, divorces and remarriages, e.g. Henry VIII and Jennifer Lopez.
- Polygamy – is when a person is married to more than one person at the same time. This is accepted in some countries but is against the law in Britain. There are two types of polygamy:
- Polyandry – woman and husbands e.g. Tibet
- Polygyny – man with wives e.g. Masai in Africa
- Increase in divorce rate (number of divorces per 1000 people per year)
- Decrease in first marriages (where the people had not been married before)
- Increase in re-marriage (where people were married before) This suggests perhaps that it is not necessarily marriage that is declining in popularity - just that some people choose the wrong person to marry.
- Increase in cohabitation
- Increase in illegitimate children
2. Ease of divorce - the stigma of divorce is greatly reduced in society today, so people no longer feel ashamed to be divorced. Sociologists point to a decline in the influence of religion as another factor.
3. Change in attitudes - some sociologists argue that marriage is highly valued in society, partly due to the image the media present of marriage as based on romance and happiness. People now demand more from marriage and if it does not live up to the ideal they hold then they will get divorced and try again - this explains the growing number of remarriages.
4. The changing role of women - approx. 70% of divorces are initiated by women. Women today are more likely to be independent - with a good education, fewer children and a job. If they are unhappy in a marriage it is easier for them to leave and start again.
| Marriage and Divorce | |
| 1. | Drag Quiz - Use the quiz to who is most likely to divorce. |
Consequences of divorce
- More single parent families
- More one person households
- More remarriages
- May be more poverty if the person who has the children gets no financial support from their ex partner.
- Children may lack a male role model (as most often the female gets custody of the children) and therefore not be socialised properly which according to the New Right may lead them to do badly in education.
- Feminists might say that divorce is a positive thing for women and children as only men benefit from family life. They believe that female single parent families are better than nuclear families for women.
It would appear from the evidence that the media image of the ‘cereal packet family’ as the typical family seems in doubt. It seems that ‘the family’ generally is not in decline, it is simply that there is now more diversity of family types in Britain today (i.e. many different types).
| Marriage & Divorce Crossword | |
| 1. | Crossword - Use the crossword to check your understanding. |
New Right and Feminist views of divorce
Theory FeminismDivorce is a positive thing for women and children as only men benefit from family life. They believe that female single parent families are better than nuclear families for women.
New Right
Children may lack a male role model (as most often the female gets custody of the children) and therefore not be socialised properly which may lead them to do badly in education.
Religious Studies
Christianity: marriage and divorce
Christians see marriage as vows taken before God, and divorce is not encouraged.
Marriage
In the marriage service of the Church of England, the couple getting married make vows to each other. The traditional marriage vows are:I, take you,to be my wife [or husband].to have and to holdfrom this day forward;for better, for worse,for richer, for poorer,in sickness and in health,to love and to cherish,till death us do part,according to God’s holy law;and this is my solemn vow.
Marriage is important for Christians because: - it's a gift from God; it's part of God’s plan for creation that men and women should live together
- it provides a relationship through which husband and wife support each other; this relationship is built on love and faithfulness
- it provides a secure environment for the bringing up of children
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.
Divorce, remarriage and cohabitation
The teaching of Jesus in the New Testament is against divorce (the legal ending of a marriage before the death of a spouse).It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.Adultery (sex with someone who you are not married to) is also wrong according to the teachings of the Ten Commandments:
Matthew 5:31-32
You shall not commit adultery.Many churches now allow divorce but a marriage can only be ended by an annulment in the Roman Catholic Church. This means that the marriage is regarded as never having taken place for special reasons.
Exodus 20:14
Christian couple on their wedding day
The Roman Catholic Church is totally opposed to people cohabiting (living together without being married). Sexual intercourse outside of a marriage is a serious sin and couples who sin in this way cannot receive communion in church. Some Protestant churches accept cohabitation although they hope that the couple will choose eventually to be married in church.
Statistics
Total number of divorces in the UK:
| Year | Number of divorces | Year | Number of divorces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 27,000 | 1993 | 180,000 |
| 1969 | 55,556 | 2004 | 167,138 |
| 1972 | 124,991 | 2005 | 155,052 |
Total number of marriages in the UK:
| Year | Number of marriages | Year | Number of marriages |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 350,000 | 2005 | 284,000 |
| 1991 | 340,000 | 2006 | 275,140 |
Total number of civil marriage ceremonies in the UK:
| Year | Number of marriages | Percentage of marriages |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | - | 47% of all marriages |
| 2004 | 184,910 | 68% of all marriages |
| 2005 | 160,270 | 65% of all marriages |
- Question
- What reasons can you suggest for the drop in numbers in each of the tables above?
- Question
- What connections between the figures in each of the tables can you identify?
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