Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ages 0-3
Signs of physical injury
Signs of physical illness, especially to
genital or urinary systems
Unusual fussiness
Refuses his/her favorite food
Becomes extremely shy
Exhibits a sudden or unusual fear of
strangers
Ages 0-3
Shows a lack of enjoyment of his/her
favorite play things
Clings to parents as if fearful
Experiences great difficulty getting to sleep
Suffers from frightening dreams
Regresses to an earlier pattern of behavior
Regression of skills
Ages 0-3
Experiences a loss of his/her sense of
security
Becomes unable to adjust to his/her
normal schedule
Manifests any change from normal
behavior pattern such as:
Ages 0-3
* Feeling ugly
* Very concrete symptoms- hitting self
in eye, etc.
* Difficulty cuddling
* Seeking attention from any adult
Ages 4-12
A sign of physical injury
Signs of physical illness, with a variety of
symptoms from recurrent headaches,
upset stomachs, or urinary tract infections
Exhibits sudden shyness
Suffers from frightening dreams
Experiences great difficulty getting to
sleep
Ages 4-12
Refuses his/her favorite foods
Suffers from depression
Exhibits some loss of memory
Worries excessively, interrupting his/her
normal life pattern
Exhibits a fear of specific adults
Has a sudden and unwarranted fear of the
dark
Ages 4-12
Exhibits extreme fear of being alone
Shows regression in patterns of behavior
or skills
Exhibits a change in school relationships,
including possible fighting and the sudden
inability to adjust
Shows lack of enjoyment in his/her
favorite TV shows, movies, games, or
other activities
Ages 4-12
Seems easily distracted as though his/her
mind is wandering
Manifests a change in his/her attitude
Manifests a change in his/her pattern of
normal behavior
Acts out in a sexual manner, appearing
more knowledgeable about sex than
his/her peers.
Ages 4-12
Develops a pseudomature character, taking over
specific parental responsibilities in the home ( a
sign predominately associated with incest)
Bedwetting
Excessive masturbation
Approaching strangers for affection
Dependency issues
School phobia
Ages 4-12
Excessive lying or manipulation
Use of precocious sexual language
Cruelty or excessive concern for animals
Fear or aversion to sports
Phobia
Emotional lability
Recurrent nightmares
Lack of joy
Ages 4-12
Shame
Excessive or total lack of interest in dating
Excessive drug or alcohol use
Self-injury
Eating disorders
Problems with boundaries:
– Difficulty saying “no”
– Problems with closed doors
– Excessive modesty or nudity
Ages 4-12
Intrusive behavior with siblings, parents,
or friends
Blocked feelings or memories
Rejection issues are primary
Early sexual acting out
Ages 13-19
Manifests signs of physical injury
Manifests signs of physical illness,
headache, stomach cramps, urinary tract
infections
Suddenly refuses food
Suffers from sudden and violent dreams
Manifests difficulty in getting to sleep
Seems in depths of depression
Ages 13-19
Exhibits inability to concentrate
Shows irritability or manifests angry
outbursts toward others
Exhibits a sudden and unwarranted fear of
the dark
Has a sudden lapse of enjoyment in dating
Feels an unexplainable fear of being left
alone
Ages 13-19
Worries excessively, interrupting his/her
normal life patterns
Experiences a loss of memory
Exhibits fear of specific adults
Exhibits a change in his/her level of
scholastic achievement
Acts out the sexual encounter with sibligns
or friends
Ages 13-19
Experiences a lack of enjoyment of his/her
favorite activities
Makes an attempt to run away from home
Contemplates suicide
Appears passive or overly compliant n
behavior
Behaves seductively with the opposite sex
Ages 13-19
Manifests a deviation from his/her normal
patterns or attitudes
*Lack of interest in dating
* Promiscuity
* Excessive drug/alcohol use
* Self-injury
* Eating disorder ( too much or too little)
Ages 13-19
Problems with boundaries:
– Saying “no” to friends
– Closing doors
– Excessive modesty/nudity
– Being intrusive with friends, parents, siblings
Ages 13-19
Blocked memories/feelings
Lack of joy
Shame
Rejection issues are primary
Dependency issues
Truancy
Early marriage/early pregnancy/early
sexual experience
Ages 13-19
Lying and manipulation
Cruelty or excessive concern for animals
Excessive masturbation
Signs of Credibility
Important information to keep in mind
during the interview process. What
enhances and what will detract from a
child’s allegation of sexual abuse
Credibility of Language
Increase of Decrease of
credibility credibility
- Uses own language - Adult terms
- Facts stay the same - Rote phrases
even if the vocabulary - Lack of details
changes
- Gives details
- Tells from a child’s
viewpoint
Credibility of Affect
Increase in Decrease of
credibility credibility
- Congruent with - Inappropriate
allegations allegations
Credibility of Behavior
Increase in Decrease in
Credibility Credibility
- Seductive - No behavioral changes
- Precocious
- Regressed
- Guarded
- Somatic
- Complaints
Credibility of Cognitive
Development
Increase in Decrease in
Credibility Credibility
- Differentiates fact - Impaired reality
from fantasy testing
Credibility of Memory
Increase in Decrease in
Credibility Credibility
- Good recall of details, - Vague
including - Evasive
sensorimotor - Prior abuse may
- Absence of denial confuse allegation
- Idiosyncratic detail
Credibility of Motives
Increase in Decrease in
Credibility Credibility
- Absence of secondary - Possible secondary
gain gain
- Need parent’s
approval
Credibility of Play
Increase in Decrease in
Credibility Credibility
- Sexual Themes - Sexual themes absent
- May reenact trauma,
exaggerates or avoids
sexual features
Credibility of Drawings
Increase in Decrease in
Credibility Credibility
- Will show - Will not show
characteristics of characteristics of
sexually abused sexually abused
children children
Credibility of History
Increase in Decrease in
Credibility Credibility
- Progressive sexual - Other medical history
activity over time to explain heightened
- Delayed disclosure sexual concerns
- Child threatened to
keep secret
- Psychological coercion
- Sex rings, rituals,
pornography
Credibility of Physicality
Increase in Credibility Decrease in Credibility
- Gonorrhea under age 14 - Normal physical exam in
other than newborn spite of history of
- Strong indicators, penetration.
hymenal disruption, anal
scars or relaxation,
gonorrhea of rectum or
vagina, other venereal
diseases