Ga. Bogat et Mp. Mcgrath, PRESCHOOLERS COGNITIONS OF AUTHORITY, AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO SEXUAL ABUSE EDUCATION, Child abuse & neglect, 17(5), 1993, pp. 651-662
This study investigated preschoolers' perceptions of authority in sexu
al and benign situations and how these might influence acquisition of
concepts presented in a sexual abuse prevention program. Participants
were 117 children, ages 36-84 months, at four day-care centers. Childr
en were randomly assigned to either an experimental or delayed treatme
nt control group. Measures of authority and prevention skills were adm
inistered prior to and following the first administration of the curri
culum. Preschoolers reasoned at a higher level of authority in sexuall
y abusive encounters as compared to benign ones. For experimental chil
dren, this capability increased after participating in the prevention
program. At pretest, sexual abuse authority scores predicted scores on
one of two prevention skills; pretest authority scores did not predic
t either posttest prevention skill. Results are discussed in relation
to children's understanding of moral versus social-conventional rules,
and future directions for research are indicated.