For those who are suspicious of the Family Research Council's article, I
thought you'd be interested in this one (I'm just passing these along):
Paul Fink, MD, President
Leadership Council for Mental Health, Justice, and the Media
One Belmont Avenue, Suite 523
Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 19004
6106645007
May 24, 1999
Mental Health Leaders Suggest Flawed Research May Promote Pedophilia
The Leadership Council for Mental Health, Justice, and the Media, a nonprofit
organization (status pending) whose membership includes many of the nationÆs
most prominent mental health leaders, is concerned that a recent study may be used
to normalize pedophilia. ôA recent study published in the American Psychological
Association's <I>Psychological Bulletin</I> has the potential of being used by
pedophile advocates to promote decriminalization of adultchild sexual contact.ö
says Paul Fink, M.D., former president of the American Psychiatric Association and
current president of the Leadership Council.<BR><BR>
The study, titled ôA MetaAnalytic Examination of Assumed Properties of Child
Sexual Abuse Using College Samples,ö suggests that mental health researchers
have overstated the harmful potential of child sexual abuse. The studyÆs authors,
Bruce Rind, Philip Tromovitch, and Robert Bauserman, conclude that behavior
which professionals commonly term ôchild sexual abuseö may merely constitute a
violation of social norms and should be considered ôabuseö only if the child reacts
negatively to the encounter. <BR><BR>
In accordance with its mission to insure the public receives accurate information
about mental health issues, the Leadership Council examined the study and
uncovered serious flaws which call many of the study's principle findings into
question. For example, the researchers conclude that youthful sexual experiences
with adults may not be harmful because subjects generally did not report
longlasting negative effects. <BR><BR>
However, the authors fail to inform readers that these findings are largely based on
a single investigation conducted over 40 years ago with limited relevance to the
serious forms of child sexual abuse commonly seen today. The majority of the
experiences reported by males were homosexual advances during adolescence and
more than half of females reported exposure to an exhibitionist. Most of the
subjects successful rebuffed the advance and immediately left the area. Not
surprisingly, few felt they suffered longterm emotional damage from the
incident.<BR><BR>
The authors improperly generalize these findings to all types of child sexual abuse
stating: ôThese data imply that, in the college population ... lasting negative
effects
are not prevalent, and when negative effects occur, they are often
temporary.ö<BR><BR>
Dr. Paul Fink notes: ôIt is as if a study that purports to examine the effects of
being
shot in the head contained a majority of cases in which the marksman missed. Such
research might demonstrate that being shot in the head generally has no serious or
lasting effects.ö<BR><BR>
In response to serious questions regarding its publication of this study, the
American Psychological Association (APA) reiterated its stand that ôthe sexual
abuse of children is wrong and harmful to its victimsö and noted that publication of
research in its journals ôin no wayö constitutes endorsement of the findings. The
APA also released a statement from the studyÆs authors who defended their
findings and claimed, as researchers, they have ôan ethical dutyö to report them.
<BR><BR>
Dr. Fink points out that according to section 6.06 of the APA ethical principles,
researchers also have the ethical duty to perform and report research in accordance
with recognized standards of scientific competence and to minimize the possibility
that results will be misleading. ôThe appearance of this paper in a leading scientific
journal is unfortunate as it provides the findings with an undeserved aura of
credibility,ö says Dr. Fink.
The Leadership Council is composed of national leaders in psychology, psychiatry,
law, and journalism who are committed to promoting the ethical application of
psychological science to human welfare.</I>
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Jim Guinee, Ph.D. Director of Training, Counseling Center
Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Psychology/Counseling
Dept. of Health Sciences
President-Elect, Arkansas College Counselor Association
University of Central Arkansas
313 Bernard Hall Conway, AR 72035
(501) 450-3138 (office) (501) 450-3248 (fax)
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning."
Proverbs 9:9
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