Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1995
Publication Title
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
Keywords
ritual abuse, child sexual abuse
Abstract
This article compares protective service workers' perceptions of sexual abuse to their percepons of ritual abuse. Perceptual elements examined include the type of problem the abuse is for victims, difficulties encountered when investigating an allegation, treatment and assessment resources available in their communities, and a comparison of their definitions of sexual and ritual abuse. The professional community has not reached a consensus on the ritual abuse controversy. Perceptions found in the literature range from the presentation of ritual abuse as a serious social problem that is distinctly different from sexual abuse to a consideration of the ritual abuse phenomenon as multidimensional sexual abuse. The study seeks to contribute to the process of consensus building by giving voice to the perceptions of social workers in the public child welfare setting. Implications for the investigation of sexual and ritual abuse allegations for social work and the larger practice community are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Lewandowski, Cathleen A., "A Comparison of Protective Service Workers' Perceptions of Ritual and Sexual Abuse in Children: An Exploratory Study" (1995). Social Work Faculty Publications. 23.
https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/clsowo_facpub/23
DOI
10.1300/J070v04n02_04
Publisher's Statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Child Sexual Abuse in 1995, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1300/J070v04n02_04
