Abstract
This article was written to introduce readers to the bodies of work that inform experts who conduct evaluations of plaintiffs
or offer generic testimony in cases involving claims of psychological injuries in the aftermath of sexual trauma, including
childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, and sexual harassment. In addition to summarizing the research literatures on
those three areas of maltreatment, it reviews what mental health experts should know about our laws, about professional standards
for evaluations, and about other relevant areas of research, such as assessment of posttraumatic stress symptoms, disclosures
by young children, “normal” childhood sexual behaviors, “repressed” or “recovered” memories, memory and trauma, memory distortions,
and resilience.
or offer generic testimony in cases involving claims of psychological injuries in the aftermath of sexual trauma, including
childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual assault, and sexual harassment. In addition to summarizing the research literatures on
those three areas of maltreatment, it reviews what mental health experts should know about our laws, about professional standards
for evaluations, and about other relevant areas of research, such as assessment of posttraumatic stress symptoms, disclosures
by young children, “normal” childhood sexual behaviors, “repressed” or “recovered” memories, memory and trauma, memory distortions,
and resilience.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-25
- DOI 10.1007/s12207-012-9121-z
- Authors
- Susan Phipps-Yonas, 500 East Grant St. #2110, Minneapolis, MN 55404, USA
- Journal Psychological Injury and Law
- Online ISSN 1938-9728
- Print ISSN 1938-971X