Child Sexual Abuse: from Risk to Resilience

Child sexual abuse myths are socially erroneous beliefs which negatively impact CSA victims. Research on this topic reveals that demographic (e.g., gender, age) and socio- cognitive variables (e.g., empathy, social dominance) are significantly associated with CSA myths endorsement. In this communication we will discuss findings from three studies developed in the Portuguese context (NS1=439; NS2=360, NS3=549), using community samples (>18 years old), and focused on the role of gender, empathy, social dominance, and propensity for moral disengagement on CSA myths as well as on individuals’ attributions of assault seriousness, victim honesty, victim credibility, victim culpability and perpetrator culpability. Overall, the results of these studies suggest that men and women differently judge CSA scenarios, and social appraisals related to CSA victims, perpetrators and the CSA experience might be also influenced by parental reactions to CSA. These findings will be discussed considering its impact for CSA victims’ mental health, their recovery after the abusive experience as well as for the fairness and appropriateness of the judicial processes.