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Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual acts by one person upon another. The offender is referred to as a molester/molestor/ abuser/sexual abuser. When the victim is younger than the age of consent
Age of consent

While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes, when used in relation to human sexual behavior, the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent of consenting to sexual acts....
, it is referred to as child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which a child is abused for the sexual gratification of an adult or older adolescent. In addition to direct sexual activity, child sexual abuse also occurs when an adult Indecent exposure to a child, asks or pressures a child to engage in sexual activities, displays pornography to a child, or us...
. More than one-fourth of the population is affected by sexual abuse. Types of sexual abuse include: Research signifies that sexually abused children that are untreated will have an extent range of effects that includes drug
Drug

A drug, broadly speaking, is any chemical substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function....
 and alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse

Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. It is differentiated from alcohol dependence by the lack of symptoms such as Drug tolerance and withdrawal....
.






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Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual acts by one person upon another. The offender is referred to as a molester/molestor/ abuser/sexual abuser. When the victim is younger than the age of consent
Age of consent

While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes, when used in relation to human sexual behavior, the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent of consenting to sexual acts....
, it is referred to as child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which a child is abused for the sexual gratification of an adult or older adolescent. In addition to direct sexual activity, child sexual abuse also occurs when an adult Indecent exposure to a child, asks or pressures a child to engage in sexual activities, displays pornography to a child, or us...
. More than one-fourth of the population is affected by sexual abuse. Types of sexual abuse include:
  • Non-consensual, forced physical sexual behavior such as rape
    Rape

    Rape, also referred to as sexual assault, is an assault by a person involving sexual intercourse with or sexual penetration of another person without that person's consent....
     or sexual assault
    Sexual assault

    Sexual assault is is an assault of a sexual nature on another person. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may be by a man on a man, woman on a man or woman on a woman....
  • The use of a position of trust
    Position of trust

    Position of trust is a legal term that is commonly used in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. It refers to a position of authority over another person or within an organization....
     to compel non-consensual sexual behavior without physical force
  • Incest
    Incest

    Incest refers to any sexual activity between closely related persons that is illegal or socially taboo. The type of sexual activity and the nature of the relationship between persons that constitutes a breach of law or social taboo vary with culture and jurisdiction....
    , when it is coerced by force or emotional manipulation
    Manipulation

    Manipulation can mean:...
    ; the euphemism "bad touch" is sometimes used to describe such abuse.
Research signifies that sexually abused children that are untreated will have an extent range of effects that includes drug
Drug

A drug, broadly speaking, is any chemical substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function....
 and alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse

Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. It is differentiated from alcohol dependence by the lack of symptoms such as Drug tolerance and withdrawal....
. Some physical signs of sexual abuse include:
  • Habit disorders such as biting, rocking etc.
  • Eating disorders
  • Frequent accidents or self-injurious behaviors
  • Suicidal
    Suicide

    Suicide is the intentional taking of one's own life. Many dictionaries also note the metaphorical sense of "willful destruction of one's self-interest"....
  • Constipation
  • Pain or discomfort on urination
  • Bacterial infections


Spousal abuse

Spousal abuse is the term applied to the specific form of domestic violence
Domestic violence

Domestic violence occurs when a family member, partner or ex-partner attempts to physically or psychologically dominate another. Domestic violence often refers to violence between spouses, or spousal abuse but can also include cohabitants and non-married intimate partners....
, where physical
Physical abuse

Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, pain, injury, or other physical suffering or harm.Basic forms include:...
 or sexual abuse is perpetrated by one spouse upon another. Frequently this involves forced sex (spousal rape) upon a spouse without his or her consent. Spousal abuse is inclusive of sexual abuse toward spouses (spousal sexual abuse).

Occupational misconduct

Sexual misconduct in occupational and educational settings can occur where one person makes use of their position of authority in order to compel compliance. A university student may feel compelled to comply with a professor's sexual advances for fear of being given a failing grade. Or an employee may likewise be coerced in exchange for not being terminated.

Sexual abuse of children/minors


Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which a child is abused for the sexual gratification of an adult or older adolescent. In addition to direct sexual activity, child sexual abuse also occurs when an adult Indecent exposure to a child, asks or pressures a child to engage in sexual activities, displays pornography to a child, or us...
 refers to sexual abuse of a child
Child

A child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor , otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority....
 (see also: minor
Minor (law)

In law, the term minor is used to refer to a person who is under the age in which one legally assumes adulthood and is legally granted rights afforded to adults in society....
) by an adult
Adult

The term adult has at least three distinct meanings. It can indicate a biologically grown or mature person. It may also mean a plant, animal, or person who has reached full growth or alternatively is capable of reproduction, or a person who has attained the legally fixed age of majority; as opposed to a minor....
, or some other person significantly older or in a position of power or control over the child, where the child is used for sexual stimulation of another person. Studies of the effects of child sexual abuse often define it as including invitations or requests in addition to actual actions, with regard to any sexual interactions between adult and child, from kissing or hugging to completed intercourse, and all other related activities.

The American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential world-wide....
 states that "children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults", and condemns the action of the adult in strong terms: "An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior."

Sexual misconduct by teachers is common in American schools according to a recent report in 2007.

See also

  • Cinderella effect
    Cinderella Effect

    The Cinderella effect is a term used by psychologists to describe the high incidence of stepchildren being Physical abuse, sexually abused, neglected or murdered, or otherwise mistreated at the hands of their Stepfamily at significantly higher rates than their parents....


Footnotes


External links

  • at the National Institutes of Health
    National Institutes of Health

    The National Institutes of Health is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research....