PSYC 430: Child Sexual Abuse Seminar
This seminar is designed for advanced students in
psychology who wish an extensive study of child sexual abuse. The course covers a variety of topics all of
which will hopefully broaden students’ understanding of child sexual abuse, its
ramifications, and issues of treatment and prevention. Topics may vary
depending on student interest, but topics frequently addressed include: (a)
societal contributions to sexual abuse; (b) behavioral and psychological
indicators of child sexual abuse; (c) short- and long-term effects of sexual
abuse; (d) sexual abuse of special populations; (e) forensic assessment of
abuse; (f) legal issues related to sexual abuse; (g) differential effects of
abuse on males vs. females; (h) clergy abuse; (i) types of offenders; (j) intra-
vs. extrafamilial abuse; (k) repressed vs. false memories related to sexual
abuse; (l) psychological disorders related to abuse; (m) adult survivors of
childhood sexual abuse; and (n) prevention of sexual abuse.
A seminar like this runs the risk of becoming a
therapy session for individuals whose lives have been affected by sexual
abuse. I encourage students who wish a
more therapeutic approach to this topic to contact the counseling center or to
set up informal debriefings/support groups with other students outside of
class. I will certainly be open to
talking with students about issues raised by the content of the course, but the
ultimate goal of the seminar is to approach the topic of child sexual abuse
from a research-based perspective.
The Child Sexual Abuse Seminar is offered in
alternate years. Click on the link below
to view the most recent course syllabus.