Relationship Between The “Sexual Abuse Whirlpool” and Gender, Type of Abuse, Victim-Perpetrator Relationship, Disclosure, Psychological Reactions, and Revictimization of Sexual Abuse Victims

Burak M. B.

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, vol.67, no.15, pp.1493-1508, 2023 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 67 Issue: 15
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/0306624x231159876
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, CINAHL, Criminal Justice Abstracts, EMBASE, HeinOnline-Law Journal Library, MEDLINE, Political Science Complete, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Violence & Abuse Abstracts, vLex, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.1493-1508
  • Keywords: Sexual Abuse Whirlpool, vulnerability, sexual abuse, victim, Routine Activities Theory
  • Sivas Cumhuriyet University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

According to the Sexual Abuse Whirlpool framework, when a vulnerable child is noticed by a perpetrator, the state of vulnerability he/she is in will reach a severe level. The SAW asserts that the method applied by the perpetrator has a multiplier effect on the child’s vulnerability and accelerates the process resulting in abuse. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the SAW and gender, type of abuse, victim-perpetrator relationship, disclosure, psychological complaints and reactions (PCRs), and revictimization of sexual abuse victims. A mixed research method was used: First, the vulnerabilities of the victims were extracted from the forensic interview forms with a qualitative method (n = 199). Then collected data were tabulated and digitized quantitatively. Victims who were exposed to penetrative abuses, who did not disclose, had serious PCRs, and who were re-victimized had high scores of the SAW. Whirlpool would decrease in places where there is a quality parent-child relationship.