Launch Press Description: This book, written by two California psychologists, is divided into 14 chapters and 6 appendices. It is descriptive and philosophical rather than empirical or research-based and is designed for parents and professionals who may minimize harmful or "dangerous" sexual behavior of children toward other children. The book addresses only children under 12 years old. Topics covered include childhood sexuality, age-appropriate sexual behavior
versus problematic sexual behaviors, theories and research concerning the
development of inappropriate sexual behaviors, sexualized children, family
dynamics, community responses, and child evaluation and treatment. Discussion: Although children are presumed to have a right to a healthy sexuality, adults are presented as needing to police children's sexual behavior and there is little discussion of children's rights. The authors' perspective is from a white, middle-class culture and ethnic and cultural differences are not considered. This is a serious shortcoming given the fact of cultural differences concerning acceptable sexual behaviors and the lack of professional agreement about normative sexual behaviors in families. As a result, a good deal of normative and developmentally appropriate sexual behavior by young children appears to be readily defined as molesting in nature. The authors note that traditional "linear cause and effect" theories concerning abusive behaviors are simplistic and inadequate to describe the relationship between being abused and becoming an abuser. Some readers will object to the term, "appropriate," in the chapter on sexualized children, since this is subjective. Also, other reasons for sexualized behavior in children besides molestation are not adequately discussed. The chapter on family dynamics may be the most important section of the book. However, one case is described where incest and molestation did not occur but the professional maintained that "incest dynamics were still prevalent" (p.107). This raises the question of overdefinition and when and how to intervene in such families. The following chapter, on community response, recommends that children who sexually molest be mandated for treatment, but this may not be practical when resources are not available or affordable. The authors achieve their goal of alerting parents and professionals to childhood sexual behaviors that may constitute dangerous and harmful molestation of other children, however, their lack of precision and tendency to use psychological jargon is distracting. Although the book is packed with conventional wisdom for professionals, there is nothing new offered in the suggestions for treatment and therapy. There is little practical help offered for families and children and there is no consideration of the effects of false allegations and how to assist families when the ultimate finding is that there was no abuse. Reviewed by LeRoy Schultz, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, West Virginia University.
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