What are sexual behaviour problems?
Sexual behaviour problems:
- Although there exists no simple definition, the Association for Treatment of Sexual Offenders ATSA describes children with sexual behaviour problems as children ages 12 and younger who initiate behaviours involving sexual body parts (i.e., genitals, anus, buttocks, or breasts) that are developmentally inappropriate or potentially harmful to themselves or others. (ATSA, 2006)
- Motivation and intention for these sexual behaviour problems may or may not be related to sexual gratification or stimulation.
- These sexual behaviour problems are often related to curiosity, anxiety, imitation, attention seeking, self-calming or other reasons.
Differences between healthy sexual behaviours and sexual behaviour problems
Healthy sexual behaviours‚
- These behaviours may vary depending on the child's age and stage of development.
- Certain observed exploratory healthy child sexual behaviours include: self-stimulation, exposing body parts or genitals, looking at or touching genitals, breasts, buttocks or anus of other children in childhood sexual play and out of curiosity, also for discovery purposes, watching another adult or child undress without him/her knowing.
- These behaviours bring on positive emotions of curiosity and pleasure for the child.
- Voluntary and exploratory sexual play amongst children of the same age and same stage of development.
Sexual behaviour problems
- These behaviours are far from healthy sexual behaviours and interfere with the child's development.
- They refer to excessive self-stimulation, exaggerated preoccupation for nudity or sexual images, touching genitals, oral-genital contacts, soliciting sexual intercourse, simulating sexual intercourse and vaginal or anal penetration
- They are highly frequent.
- They implicate children of different ages and different developmental stages.
- They involve coercion, manipulation and aggression.
- They cause emotional and physical sufferance.
- They persist despite adult intervention.
Sexual behaviour problems may be related to other situations or circumstances involving children. They are not always necessarily related to child sexual abuse.
This very complex problematic requires professional assessment considering all circumstances and the child's own dynamic before any diagnosis of sexual behaviour problems is made.
Upon referral from one of the Centre's designated Partners, Specialized treatments are offered to children presenting sexual behaviour problems.
The Centre offers training to professionals wishing to learn more about the problematic.
