Social Exchange Theory Of Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse then progresses to pressured and/or forced sex by making the child feel trapped within the abusive relationship (Crosson-Tower, 2008). The abuser traps the child by making them feel guilty or blackmailing them, threatening to hurt them or their family. Finally, secrecy, disclosure and suppression can either liberate the child, or further entrap them. With secrecy, the child keeps the abuse a secret, whether forcibly or on their own accord. Secrecy on the part of the child may be because they are being blackmailed or because they are afraid it is their fault. Despite disclosure of the abuse to an adult, sometimes the child’s cries for help are suppressed by the person they disclosed to. If a child’s disclosure of abuse is suppressed by an adult they trust, it can be more damaging than even the abuse itself.
The theory that can be most applicable to child sexual abuse would be social exchange theory, which states that relationships between individuals are influenced by how different people interact and negotiate with one another. In a sexually abusive relationship
Giving children the knowledge to know the difference between a good touch and a bad touch is similar to the “Uh-oh feeling” that Esterlee Molyneaux from the Child and Family Support Center discussed in class (E. Molyneaux, personal communication, January 25, 2010). In the article, the authors find that children who “have knowledge of sexual matters” are less likely to be victims of sexual abuse (Kenny et al, 2008, p. 37). However, the article goes on to discuss that there is a significant lack of sexual abuse awareness in educational systems and that any knowledge that children have is mostly likely from parents and