Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.
Sexual abuse in children is becoming a matter of grave concern, not only because it is particularly harmful to the well-being of the child but also because children may not always be truthful in their allegations regarding sexual abuse. Certain suggestive questions and techniques could mislead the child into making the wrong accusation about sexual abuse which may jeopardize the life and career of the accused person. In the article, the researcher investigates the problem of reliability of the statements of children who have allegedly faced sexual abuse. These children may have to face interviews, family disturbances and may have to answer several questions to professionals including mental health counselors and social workers. In the article, the author raises the vital question of the reliability of these childrens statements through their interviews and questioning process, so that care can be taken to minimize the risks of contamination in these crucial reports.
Psychologists use a wide variety of techniques to answer research questions. In the clinical approach for the study of personality, researchers focus on the use of questionnaires and interviews which enables the researcher to study the individual in great depth through a case study (Cozby, 1993). In this article, the researcher uses the interview method to assess the memory and suggestibility of the children in which children are required to perceive an event through retention and retrieval as instructed by the researcher. Through a qualitative study of a review of literature, the researcher provides six problematic techniques also known as the McMartin factors (Garven S, Wood JM, Malpass RS, Shaw JS 3rd. More than suggestion: the effect of interviewing techniques from the McMartin Preschool case. J Appl Psychol. 1998;83:347-359).
The study validates that children may be susceptible to making wrong accusations of wrongdoing or sexual abuse and therefore may tend to provide wrong statements when they are questioned about certain events. Particularly, the study proves that when children are capable of making false and invalid statements and accusations regarding sexual abuse or being touched if misleading or inappropriate questions are asked, which could obviously lead to false information.
The article states that misleading questions and suggestive interview techniques must be avoided so that children do not report falsely sexual abuse. However, personally, I feel that it is necessary for parents to talk to their children and educate them about their private body parts so that children recognize unwanted behaviors from natural ones. Also, it is particularly important for parents to communicate with their children constantly regarding their encounters and meetings with other society members so that parents can also gauge from these communications, any problematic behaviors of individuals who may be sexually inclined. Sometimes, children may forget to report what they have actually experienced and at some times they may report unnecessarily. It is therefore extremely crucial for professionals to adopt interview-appropriate techniques so in order to avoid any lapse in information and also to avoid any false reporting of children regarding sexually abusive behaviors.
The article states some useful tips and techniques to avoid such as suggestive techniques such as did the person touch your private parts to be avoided while questioning children and repeating a question that has already been answered by the child. Questions that invite speculation such as can you try to close your eyes and imagine what he did to you? are also to be avoided. Parents and interviewers must avoid giving positive consequences such as calling the child smart or really good when children report abuse. Similarly, negative consequences like telling the children that they are giving undesirable answers must also be avoided completely by the interviewers and parents alike.
References
Article: Scott, Charles L. Forensic issues in child sexual abuse allegations.(Special Report: Forensic Psychiatry). Psychiatric Times 25.14 (2008): 28.
Garven S, Wood JM, Malpass RS, Shaw JS 3rd. More than suggestion: the effect of interviewing techniques from the McMartin Preschool case. J Appl Psychol. 1998; 83:347-359.
Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.