Different Assessments of Reactions to Child Sexual Abuse

Presenter Information

Dawson Jubin
LouAnne Hawkins
Mary Geary

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Christopher Leone, Dr. Judith Ochrietor

Faculty Sponsor College

College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Sponsor Department

Interdisciplinary

Location

SOARS Virtual Conference

Presentation Website

https://unfsoars.domains.unf.edu/2021/posters/different-assessments-of-reactions-to-child-sexual-abuse/

Keywords

SOARS (Conference) (2021 : University of North Florida) – Archives; SOARS (Conference) (2021 : University of North Florida) – Posters; University of North Florida -- Students -- Research – Posters; University of North Florida. Office of Undergraduate Research; University of North Florida. Graduate School; College students – Research -- Florida – Jacksonville – Posters; University of North Florida – Undergraduates -- Research – Posters; University of North Florida. Department of Psychology -- Research – Posters; University of North Florida. Department of Biology -- Research -- Posters

Abstract

The minimization effect occurs when reactions to child sexual abuse are the least negative for adult females and male victims (Cromer & Goldsmith, 2010; Denov, 2003). This effect may be a function of sex stereotypes about men (mean) and women (nurturant) as well as boys (sexually adventurous) and girls (vulnerable) (Leone et al. 2018). We systematically assessed the roles of stereotypes in the minimization effect using multiple measures: self-reported (attitudes) and salivary cortisol (psychophysiological stress). The former is subject to socially describe responding whereas the latter is not. Participants provided an initial saliva sample and were randomly assigned to read one of four adult-child sexual encounter scenarios. Participants then completed a Semantic Differential Scale (Osgood, Suci, & Tannenbaum 1957) to assess their attitudes about the sexual encounter. After serval filler tasks to provide an optimal interval for the release of cortisol, a second saliva sample was collected. Data collection is complete and data analysis is underway. If participants were not genuinely distressed by female adult-male child sexual encounters, then they would have the lowest levels of cortisol (consistent with the minimization effect). Additionally, a correlation between scores on this psychophysiological measure and scores on our self-report measure would increase the validity of self-report as an assessment of responses to socially undesirable events. Limitations of this study include the representativeness of college students as a sample and the experimental realism of our scenarios. Future directions include using different (a) samples, (b) psychophysiological measures, and (c) methodologies. Audio Player

Comments

Audio Presentation Transcript:

Hello Everyone. My name is Dawson Jubin and I will be presenting on behalf of myself. For this project, I worked under Dr. Christopher Leone of the Psychology Department and Dr. Judith Ochrietor of the Biology Department.

Reactions to child sexual abuse can be towards the sex of the perpetrators, the sex of the victims, or the combination of the two. Past research has shown that when it comes to the legal system, male perpetrators are convicted more often and more harshly than their female counterparts. This conviction rises even more when the victim is a young female. A large factor that influences this is the Minimization Effect. The minimization effect is when the least negative attitudes about encounters between female adults and male minors are expressed. These attitudes stem from the current sex stereotypes. Adult men are seen as aggressive and dominant while adult women are seen as nurturing and submissive. Young boys are seen as tough and sexually adventurous while young girls are seen as delicate and not sexually adventurous. Examples of how these sex stereotypes affect attitudes toward and ultimately convictions of Adult-minor-sexual encounters in the legal system can be found in the research of Denov, Cromer & Goldsmith, and Leone.

The most common method of assessment for attitudes is the Self-report method. While this method is easy to interpret and gives insight to each individual’s personal perspective, it can also be riddled with minimization, biases, and socially desirable responding. Many times, participants will respond with what they think they should respond with, rather than what they actually feel. Another method of assessment are psychophysiological measures, specifically cortisol measurements. Cortisol can be collected through non-invasive salivary samples and they allow for recording of the involuntary response of the body that cannot be altered, unlike self-reporting when it comes to socially desirable responding. Although this method provides more insight, it is costly and time consuming to run assays and analysis. Based off of primary research and the assessment methods above, my research team created the following research question: Can the validity of self-report measures be relied upon when expressing attitudes about socially undesirable events?
To test this research question, 160 participants provided saliva samples and self-report responses. After providing informed consent, participants provided an initial saliva sample and were randomly assigned to read one of four adult-child sexual encounter scenarios. Sex of children and sex of adults were manipulated, but all other factors, like the nature of adult-child relationship, nature of sexual acts, were held constant. After reading the scenario, participants completed a Semantic Differential Scale to assess their attitudes about the sexual encounter (Osgood, Suci, & Tannenbaum, 1957). Participants also answered questions regarding their own sexual experiences as a minor, heath screening questions, and demographic information. These survey questions allowed enough time for the second saliva sample which was collected from the participant and they were debriefed.
To determine if self-reported attitudes were correlated with salivary cortisol, cortisol assays need to be completed. Collection of the self-report responses has been completed and the analysis of the cortisol assays is underway. With cortisol being a stress hormone, higher levels of salivary cortisol would indicate a higher stress while participants completed survey questions (Robins et al., 2007). That is, if participants felt genuinely stressed by the adult-child sexual encounter and their stereotypes are challenged rather than supported, then that would be reflected in their saliva with high cortisol levels. A correlation between scores on this psychophysiological measure and scores on our self-report measure would increase our confidence in the validity of the latter.
The expected results include that the minimization effect will be prevalent in the results. As you can see in the first table, it is predicted that attitudes will be the least negative when the perpetrator is female and the victim is male. The second table shows the predicted results of the cortisol assays where cortisol levels are the lowest when the perpetrator is female and the victim is male. The third table shows the convergence of the two methods of assessment. This table shows that the correlations between the self-report responses and the cortisol levels will be positively correlated, meaning that the responses will match up with the cortisol levels. Overall, it is expected that the minimization effect will be prevalent in the results and the lowest cortisol levels will be when the victims are male and the perpetrators are female.
There are two main implications of this research. The first being on the legal system. This research has the potential to show an overreliance on self-report measures, the underreporting of child sexual abuse, and the unequal prosecution of perpetrators due to the minimization effect and sex stereotypes. The second implication is on research methodology. This research could increase our knowledge about stereotype-based processing and how to control for socially desirable responding in self-report measures.
The limitations of this research are the sample size and the experimental realism. Our sample was of college age students who are typically in the psychology department which limits the diversity of the responses collected. Participants were also brought to a research room with computers to fill out the surveys and provide saliva samples. This may have impacted the experimental realism and therefore their responses.
Future directions include different samples with greater diversity. It might be interesting to see if having a sample that predominantly has children affects the results. Other physiological measurements, such as blood glucose, might also give us more insight as to how the body is reacting to the scenario. Alternative methodologies might help combat for the experimental realism. Simulating a jury trial might change how the participants are stimulated, change how they perceive the consequences, and therefore change their mental and physiological responses. Including moderator variables might also increase our knowledge about the link between self-report measures and psychophysiological measures. Benevolent and hostile sexism, where the individual is either more biased for or against a certain sex, could be a moderator that affects the mental and physical responses of the individual. Situational factors, such as the perpetrator/victim relationship might also affect this. Manipulating the nature of the relationship, for example whether the perpetrator and victim are related or not, as well as the duration of the relationship might also affect the results.

Rights Statement

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