CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: PERSPECTIVES OF SYSTEMS THEORISTS

THEORISTS AND SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISTS

This research reviews literature relevant to the perceptions of child sexual abuse (CSA) by systems theorists and symbolic interactionists. The initial section of this review covers literature related to the phenomenon of child abuse, while the second section assesses the perspectives of the systems theorists and the symbolic interactionists.

The Phenomenon of Child Sexual Abuse

American society is becoming increasingly sensitized to sex-related criminal behavior. Politicians, social service professionals, criminal justice professionals, and other responsible parties are under increasing pressures to develop and implement policies that will both protect the public, provide assistance to victims, and provide help to the extent possible to the perpetrators of sexual offenses.

There are strong societal tendencies to blame victims for the sexual abuse perpetrated against them. Some perpetrators of sexual abuse continue to hold the view that such behavior is not an act of violence (Melville, 1991, p. 24). The motives for sexual assault on children usually involve power and lust to some degree. Until the combination of these two factors are effectively addressed in the thinking of both society and the individual members of society, one can expect that sexual assault generally and child sexual assault particularly will continue. Most family systems theorists place the origi

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next higher level in the hierarchy in the context of system function is the dynamic system. Dynamic systems are static systems that change over time. The third level in the hierarchy in the context of system function is the explanatory system. Where both static and dynamic systems describe patterns in space and time, explanatory systems go farther and explain these patterns. The lowest hierarchical level in the context of system complexity is the mechanical system. In mechanical systems, the change in system state is "guided by constant and relatively simple parameters" (Boulding, p. 18). The next hierarchical level in the context of system complexity is the cybernetic system. A cybernetic system is one in which system equilibrium is maintained as a function of negative feedback (pp. 84-95). Thus, cybernetic systems contain three essential elements: a receptor, a transmitter, and an effector. Just above the cybernetic system in the systems hierarchy in the context of system complexity is the positive feedback system (pp. 238-239). Positive feedback systems react to disequilibrium. Positive feedback systems, thus, are relatively short-lived, because they tend to change into some other form of system as a consequence of
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 3650
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page)

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