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Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
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Psicothema, 2012. Vol. Vol. 24 (nº 3). 402-409




La conducta sexual infantil como indicador de abusos sexuales: los criterios y sesgos de los profesionales

Eva González Ortega, Begoña Orgaz Baz y Félix López Sánchez

Universidad de Salamanca

Algunas conductas sexuales infantiles se asocian a experiencias de abuso sexual, pero ninguna de forma inequívoca. Es posible, por ello, que los profesionales apliquen criterios no fundamentados y muestren sesgos personales al detectar y notificar posibles abusos. Para comprobarlo, aplicamos un método experimental de viñetas basado en la Encuesta Factorial con el que presentamos a 974 profesionales españoles e hispanoamericanos de seis ramas (Psicología, Educación, Salud, Servicios Sociales, Justicia y Fuerzas del Orden) situaciones hipotéticas de conducta sexual prepuberal (variando el sexo, la edad del prepúber y el tipo de conducta) y pedimos valorar: a) si creen que indican abusos, y b) si denunciarían en las instituciones. También medimos factores sociodemográficos, académico-profesionales y actitudinales. Según los análisis, las sospechas de abuso dependen más de factores personales, y la intención de notificar, de factores situacionales. El principal criterio adoptado es el tipo de conducta realizada, de forma que las muestras de agresividad sexual y conocimiento sexual precoz tienen más probabilidad de sugerir abusos y ser notificadas. La actitud hacia la sexualidad parece generar sesgos, dado que los profesionales más erotofóbicos tienen más probabilidad de tener sospechas. En todo caso, ninguna conducta sexual infantil se interpreta como evidencia de abusos sexuales.

Childhood sexual behavior as an indicator of sexual abuse: Professionals’ criteria and biases. Some sexual behaviors are related to child sexual abuse experiences, but none unequivocally. Therefore, professionals might use non-empirical-based criteria and be biased when detecting and reporting victims. To check this hypothesis, we presented 974 Spanish and Latin American professionals from different fields (Psychology, Education, Health, Social Services, Justice, and Police Force) with hypothetical situations of child sexual behavior (varying the sex, age and behavior) by using an experimental vignette method based on Factorial Survey. Participants were asked to indicate whether such behaviors are a sign of abuse and whether they would report them. We also measured demographic, academic, professional and attitude factors. According to the analysis, professionals’ suspicion of abuse is more affected by personal factors, whereas their reporting intention depends more on situational factors. The main criterion adopted is the type of sexual behavior, with professionals being more likely to suspect and report in response to aggressive sexual behavior and precocious sexual knowledge. Professionals’ attitudes to sexuality seem to generate biases, as those who are erotophobic are more likely to suspect abuse. None of the sexual behaviors was seen as evidence of abuse.

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