Adults Who Have Been Abused as Children

Over the last two decades there has been extensive research aimed at determining the psychological and behavioral con-sequences that result from individuals being abused as children. The purpose of this paper is to review a sampling of this re-search and so arrive at a clinical profile of adults who have been abused as children.

Studies of Adults Abused as Children

Eliana Gil (1983) has noted that examination of clients presenting themselves for psychotherapy evidences certain be-havioral patterns, which are reliably associated with their being abused as children. In general, these patterns include: (1) difficulties finding and maintaining employment; (2) alcohol problems; (3) problems related to marriage to an abusive spouse; (4) depression; and (5) a general and pervasive feeling of "wandering" through life without goals or

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ldren is that they are more likely to be physically abused if they are stepchildren, or if they are mentally retarded or have physical handicaps or chronic illnesses (Lightcap, Kurland & Burgess, 1982; Parke & Lewis, 1981). One category of abuse not as yet discussed but which also has been observed to yield significant influence over the adult life is sexual abuse of children by parents. Several authors have explored for the nature of this influence. For example, reports by Forward and Buck (1987) note that almost every victim of childhood sexual abuse experiences certain key feelings which contribute to a great need in adulthood to maintain secrecy and to tend to suppress feelings. In childhood, the feelings that contribute to this adult behavior are: (1) a craving for love from the aggressor; (2) inability to resist the incestuous advances; (3) in some cases, enjoyment of the physical feelings, although in other cases there can be repulsion; (4) strong desires for secrecy usually associated with great stress; and (5) intense guilt. With respect to the adult manifestations of these early reactions to incest, Forward and Buck (1987) note that: As the victim grows older, her guilt often makes her self-destructive--she puni
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Approximate Word count = 2269
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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