Surviving Child Abuse - Recovery & Research, Exposure & Disclosure (SCARRED)

Who is abusing children? Please click here to expose who abused you. This only takes a second.

PAST POLL RESULTS:

QUESTION

What age were you when you first experienced abuse of any kind? (Includes physical, mental, emotional, neglectual or sexual.)

At first glance, one would assume that girls are targeted for abuse more than boys but this poll could actually reveal that girls are more likely to talk about it, seek help and compassion and deal with the abuse they suffered as children while boys may be hiding their pain and keeping it inside, trying to give the appearance of 'I'M STRONG! I CAN HANDLE IT!' and 'BOY'S DON'T CRY'

It is very alarming to see that SO MANY children are abused from infancy on and the older the child can get, the safer (in odds) he/she will be from predators! Society wants to teach children how to protect themselves from predators — but it appears they can't walk or talk at the time they are most vulnerable.

Catharsis Foundation does blame our society for child abuse because our society does very little to protect children from predators. We'll easily pass laws to protect children from cigarette smoke (even in their own homes and vehicles), make children wear protective head gear while riding bikes or life jackets while near water, etc etc etc yet it appears to be UNCONSTITUTIONAL to protect babies and children from abusers and predators!

While the solution may not be simple, the problem is that society seems to dismiss victims who could reveal truths about child abuse than address the fact that vulnerable babies and children are being abused.

What Do You Think?

Is sexual attraction for children (pedophilism) a mental illness (uncontrollable and treatable) or a personal lifestyle choice (controllable and untreatable)?

TOTAL RESPONSES: 389

Responses		Percent	Votes
1	MENTAL ILLNESS - Uncontrollable and treatable	25%	99
2	CHOICE - Controllable and untreatable	41%	162
3	NEITHER - Pedophiles are just EVIL and should be locked away forever!	24%	93
4	OTHER - email info@catharsisfoundation.org to explain	10%	37

ANALYSIS:
65% of responses (Choice - 41% and Neither - 24%) indicate that they believe that people who abuse children do so because they choose to.

Only 25% of responses believe that a child abuser had no control over their action and can be treated.

Some comments by Respondents . . . .

From DS:

Adults who are sexually attracted to children do suffer the consequences of a predisposition plus environmental and experiential circumstances. So, yes it can be seen as a 'condition' or 'illness', but like alcoholism or any other predisposition to something, it also is a choice whether to act upon those feelings or inclinations. Once someone knows that their tendencies or desires are not appropriate, are against the law, or bring them and others great trouble, they have a responsibility to act responsibly by not acting on those desires. A diagnosis of a physical or mental condition does not mean the person has no choice. We always have choice, it's just that the choice may be more difficult for some than for others

From: RTM

My opinion on pedophilia is that it's "MENTAL ILLNESS - Uncontrollable and treatable," in certain cases. However. There are many cases wherein the perpetrator is so deep in his/her sickness, so deep in denial that while attempts to treat such an individual could be continued that should take place while incarcerated. A careful screening process needs to be in place at the earliest stages with psychiatric evaluations to be certain the offender is not a threat to society. Depending upon the crime certain offenders should be incarcerated asap and during early stages and maybe in a program designed for sex offenders. Many sex offenders themselves were victims which is where in part it all began not that that makes it right. A special facility could/should be established in states and communities for the milder cases if I can call it that so that if one could be restored through a program, in the long run restored citizens could live in community and make positive contributions at some level rather than getting time, getting out and being put back in jail again costing the American public millions over the years as it does to jail the perpetrators.

Join the Survivor Community to receive notification of new books added to this web site
or Click Here