Sexual Development in Childhood [Hardcover]

Approached with either indifference or panic in our culture, discussion of childhood sexuality remains submerged within political and moral debates that have historically impededits understanding. In contrast, Sexual Development in Childhood brings together respected researchers and clinicians to assess the current state of knowledge about childhood sexuality. The result is a comprehensive presentation of the latest research that is rational, balanced, and thorough.

The wide-ranging essays in Sexual Development in Childhood seek collectively to answer many of the most vital questions in the field of childhood development. What is childhood sexuality, and why should it be studied? How should it be measured, and what research methods are most useful? What are the current empirical results of research, and in what direction do these studies intend to go in the future? The essays offered in answer to these questions propose to help us understand both the normal range of sexual development in children and the consequences of abusive sexual experiencesobjectives that should make this volume an essential resource for teachers, advocates, and social policy professionals as well as for researchers and clinicians.

Introduction

Part 1. The Historical Context
Watching the Research Pendulum

Part 2. Methodological Aspects
Methodological Issues Associated with Studies of Child Sexual Behavior
Using the Parents as Source of Information About the Child with Special Emphasis on the Sex Problems Scale of the Child Behavior Checklist
Discussion Paper
General Discussion
Methodological Issues involved in Adult Recall of Childhood Sexual Experiences
Using Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (CASI) for Recall of Childhood Sexual Exlƒ7