Date of Award
8-1990
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Malcolm H. Robertson
Second Advisor
Dr. Chris Koronakos
Third Advisor
Dr. M. Michele Burnette
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Using anatomical dolls, the play behaviors of nine sexually abused preschool children (five males, four females), ranging in age from 3-5 years, were compared with nine preschool children with whom there was no suspicion of sexual abuse and who were matched on the basis of age, gender, race, family status, and socioeconomic status. There was no significant difference between the two groups on explicit sexual behavior (vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse with thrusting motions between the dolls or between the child and dolls and masturbation by the child). The groups were significantly (t (8) = 2.19, p < .05 ) different when behaviors with suspicious sexual implication were combined with explicit sexual behaviors. There were no differences between the groups on measures of aggression, anxiety, and nonsexual behavior. The occurrence of the suspicious sexual behaviors is discussed and reviews of previous doll research and physical evidence of child sexual abuse are provided.
Recommended Citation
Kenyon-Jump, Rita, "Comparison of Behaviors of Suspected Sexually Abused and Nonsexually Abused Preschool Children Using Anatomical Dolls" (1990). Masters Theses. 1038.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1038