Child Sexual Abuse : Why Children Disclose or Deny Being Abused

This fully revised volume provides a rigorous assessment of the latest research relating to the disclosure of childhood sexual abuse, along with the practical and policy implications of the findings.

Leading researchers and practitioners from diverse and international backgrounds offer critical commentary on these findings gathered from both field and laboratory research. Building on the first edition, this book presents the research from the past twenty years on why delayed disclosure or denial is so common and what we can do about it. Chapters focus on field research interviewing reluctant children, including suspected victims of sexual abuse and other crimes, victims of trafficking, as well as young, suspected perpetrators of sexual abuse. Adding emphasis on research‑based methods for overcoming reluctance, it also explores the different dynamics and circumstances which affect disclosure patterns and the ways in which interviewers can facilitate disclosures.

Child Sexual Abuse is for researchers and practitioners from child, forensic, and clinical psychology, social work, and all legal professionals who need to understand this crime. It will also be of interest to trainee social workers specializing in child welfare and intervention.

Michael E. Lamb PhD is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Cambridge and has written or edited approximately 50 books, including the first edition of this book.

Irit Hershkowitz is Professor Emerita of Social Work at the University of Haifa and has led research on interviewing reluctant children for over a decade.

Margaret‑Ellen Pipe is Professor Emerita of Psychology at the City University of New York and was the principal editor of the first edition of this book.