Which statement is true about child sexual abuse?

Which statement is true about child sexual abuse?

• A. Victims do not perpetrate against others
• B. Unknown perpetrators
• C. Limited to groups
• D. Genital injuries

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the typical victim–offender pattern in child sexual abuse. In most cases, the person who abuses a child is an individual in a position of power or trust, and the child is the victim, not the perpetrator. Because of that, the general statement that victims do not perpetrate against others lines up with how child sexual abuse is most often conceptualized and addressed in practice. It’s important to recognize that this is a general pattern and there are rare cases where a survivor may later engage in abusive behavior, but those are not the norm. The other statements aren’t reliable general truths. Perpetrators are not always unknown to the child—many cases involve someone the child knows. Abuse is not limited to groups; it can be committed by a single individual. Genital injuries are not present in all cases and cannot be used as a universal indicator of abuse.

The main idea here is the typical victim–offender pattern in child sexual abuse. In most cases, the person who abuses a child is an individual in a position of power or trust, and the child is the victim, not the perpetrator. Because of that, the general statement that victims do not perpetrate against others lines up with how child sexual abuse is most often conceptualized and addressed in practice. It’s important to recognize that this is a general pattern and there are rare cases where a survivor may later engage in abusive behavior, but those are not the norm.

The other statements aren’t reliable general truths. Perpetrators are not always unknown to the child—many cases involve someone the child knows. Abuse is not limited to groups; it can be committed by a single individual. Genital injuries are not present in all cases and cannot be used as a universal indicator of abuse.