Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Psychology, August 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of systematic desensitization and cognitive self-control training procedures in reducing anger arousal, overt hostility, and aggression; and their effectiveness in increasing constructive action in therapists conducting counselling interviews with child abusers. Thirty graduate social work students who indicated that they sometimes become at least mildly angry toward parents or caretakers who physically abuse children participated in the study. The students who volunteered for the study were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions in a pretest/posttest control group design. Anger was aroused experimentally in the subjects using laboratory provocations which consisted of six imaginal interviews with abusive and non-abusive parents. The imaginal interviews were conducted in a language laboratory using an automatically synchronized slide-tape program. The systematic desensitization and cognitive self-control treatments consisted of two one-hour training sessions administered within the same week. / The criterion measures employed in the experimental study included (a) Reaction Inventory (Evans & Stangeland, 1971), (b) Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (factor analytic version--Bendig, 1962), (c) Hostility Scale Applicable to Verbal Samples (Gottschalk, Winget, & Gleser, 1969), (d) Self-Report Rating of Anger Scale (Novaco, 1975), (e) Self-Report Rating of Aggression Scale (Novaco, 1975), and (f) Self-Report Rating of Constructive Action Scale (Novaco, 1975). / Analysis of covariance of the experimental data indicated no statistically significant treatment differences on any of the six dependent measures. Although statistical significance was not achieved, the pre-treatment and post-treatment means showed changes in the desired direction on the six dependent measures for the systematic desensitization treatment group. The cognitive self-control treatment group means showed changes in the desired direction on five of the dependent measures. / The empirical results were discussed with reference to theoretical concepts of anger arousal, and the research literature on experimental studies of training procedures relevant to anger control.

Thesis (MSocSc)--University of South Australia, 1997

Thesis (PhD(Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references . Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 1998. / Title from document title page. "May 4, 1998." Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 121 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-64).

Thesis (M.A.)--Georgia State University, 2005. / Title from title screen. Greg Jurkovic, committee chair; Sarah Cook, Julia Perilla, committee members. Electronic text (47 p.) : digital, PDF file. Description based on contents viewed June 19, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-46).

No description available.

This study tested an underlying assumption of professionals who interview young children with anatomically correct dolls: children who have been sexually abused react differently to interviews with the dolls than children who have not been sexually abused. The behavior of a group of children who were referred to a mental health clinic in the southwestern United States because of suspected sexual abuse was compared to the behavior of a group of children referred to the same clinic for other reasons while the children were interviewed by clinicians using anatomically correct dolls. The study examined four categories of behavior which consisted of indicators of child sexual abuse from the literature. The four categories were: (1) sexual behavior; (2) anger/aggression; (3) anxiety/regression; and (4) avoidant behavior. Clinicians at the mental health clinic identified potential subjects for the study from the outpatient population. Parents were given written and verbal descriptions of the study and asked to contact the researcher if they were interested in allowing their child to participate. The voluntary nature of participation in the study was stressed. Eleven children who were referred because of suspected sexual abuse and eleven children referred for other reasons were successfully recruited. Groups were matched as closely as possible as to sex, age, racial/ethnic group and developmental level. Two dependent measures were employed: the Behavioral Checklist and the Likelihood of Victimization Scale. Both instruments were designed for the research study. The Behavioral Checklist was completed by two observers who watched each interview from behind a one-way mirror. The Likelihood of Victimization Scale was completed by the clinicians who interviewed the children. Observers as well as interviewers were blind to the referral status of the children. Statistically significant differences were obtained for two of the four categories of the Behavioral Checklist. The same two categories correlated significantly with the Likelihood of Victimization Scale. The results provided support for the assumption tested.

This study explored the reliability of disclosures of sexual abuse from preschool children. The study assumed the following: firstly the greater the level of trauma experienced by the child, the lower the reliability of the disclosure. Secondly, if the child had been severely threatened it was less likely that their disclosure would be reliable. Thirdly it was assumed that the more supportive the family was of the child's disclosure, the more reliable the disclosure would be. Fourthly, the study assumed that an important factor regarding reliability of a child's disclosure was the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Lastly it was assumed that the techniques used would be secondary in importance if compared with the therapeutic relationship . The research questions asked how techique, social worker and child-related variables affected the reliability of a child's disclosure of sexual abuse, and if there was a relationship between the variables and the child's ability to disclose reliably. The research included both qualitative and quantitative data and methodology. The research process was twofold. Firstly child, social worker and technique-related variables were identified from the case studies and the relationship between these variables described . Secondly, the effects of these variables on the participants' reliability in relating their sexual abuse experiences were explored. Thirty participants were selected through systematic random sampling. Participants were male and female between the ages of two and six years. The collective case study method was used and data was obtained from case records and analysed through content analysis. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The results reflected a relationship between the above mentioned variables. It seemed that child-related variables were important and could affect the child's ability to disclose reliably. However social worker-related variables seemed to be able to positively mediate the negative effects of some of the child-related variables. Technique-related variables seemed to be closely related to the-quality of and the specific stage of the therapeutic relationship. Techniques could be successfully used where a trusting relationship existed between the social worker and the child. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a problem of increasing intensity both internationally and within the context of South Africa. While various studies have investigated the post-rape experiences of CSA survivors, few have studied these experiences from a child-centred perspective. The current study thus seeks to explore the personal views of children and their ways of seeing the world in relation to their helpful and harmful experiences in the aftermath of disclosure. The sample was taken from an NGO, located on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, which deals specifically with issues affecting abused children. The sample consisted of 20 child rape survivors, between the ages of 5 and 17. Qualitative interviews were conducted in isiZulu by a trained Counselling Psychologist, who served the role of both interviewer and counsellor. Interview transcripts were translated into English and analyzed thematically. Data were organized within an ecosystemic framework in an attempt to conceptualize experiences at various systemic levels. Results indicate varying helpful and harmful experiences with regard to familial, community, institutional, and broader macrosytemic levels of influence. Harmful experiences at the institutional level appeared to have to do with the lack of information shared with the children as to the nature of the proceedings, and what was expected of them, rather than with the post-rape medical examination. Reactions of significant others, in particular the primary caregiver, were found to have a significant impact upon the child’s own feelings towards the sexual abuse. Fear of revictimization, disbelief regarding the minimum punishment afforded to the perpetrator, and feelings of being tricked, deceived, and let down by the perpetrator, were other common themes within the data. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.