Psychological impact of 'consensual' adult-child sexual relationship?

Dave!

Hey folks,

Inspired by the thread in After Hours about a news story where a 24 year old male was jailed for having a 'consensual' sexual relationship with a 14 year old girl. The parents were aware of it, and the child was living with the man, etc.

I think it probably goes without saying that this is abhorrent, and the man should go to jail for it. Anywho, this isn't the place to debate that, if one is so inclined.

But I'm wondering has any research been done on this kind of relationship? I'm sure plenty has been done on non-consensual sex (i.e. rape), but what about this kind of case?

If the 'couple' break up (as opposed to living happily ever after), would the girl look back on it as an adult and feel violated, need help, etc.? I would have assumed so.

But the real reason I'm starting the thread -- if it were different circumstances, and it were actually a 14 year old boy having a consensual sexual relationship with a 24 year old female, then is he as likely to suffer psychologically in later life?

As a male, my initial thought would be that no, he wouldn't, but obviously that's easy to say as someone who has never been raped... Ignoring for a minute the societal double-standards here (where a young male scoring an adult female is a legend, but in the opposite case it's a violation, etc.), what does the literature say on this?

Even in general, if a female rapes a male (i.e. non-consensual sex), then what is the psychological impact?

Cheers folks!

Odysseus

I'm not sure if I'm happy with this thread, even though it is a very valid question. I have no stats but from clinical experience, I have worked with males who experienced sexual abuse by a female, and you don't really get to see me unless you have issues.

I'm locking this thread on a temp basis, to discuss it with the other mods. In the meantime if any of the regular posters have something to add, pm and I'll unlock it. Hopefully that will keep everybody happy.

Odysseus

Ok having had a chat with the others mods we have re-opened. I just want to stress that we do not deal with individual cases here nor give advise.

metrovelvet

Consent is a very fuzzy term when you are talking about these age parameters, regardless of the genders of either party.

Any accountability on the part of a minor in these circumstance, as in criminal or other circumstances should be treated with circumspection and no doubt as they grow into adults where their capacity for consent is evolved they will reframe their past experiences.

Thdrkne

I have actually read that studies have shown that CONSENSUAL Adult/child relationship of varying ages do not generally cause more damage than any "normal" relationship.

Dave!

Wow, old thread, interesting topic though, but it died a death...!

You should link to these studies Thdrkne

krd

Dave! wrote: »

You should link to these studies Thdrkne

Knowing people who work with sexually abused children. They would strenuously disagree, that these "relationships" do not cause harm. Children (and who go on to become adults) can be seriously disturbed by these "relationships". And the younger the children are when they're sexually abused the more disturbed they can be - uncontrollable, smearing themselves and the walls in their own excrement.

Torakx

krd wrote: »

Knowing people who work with sexually abused children. They would strenuously disagree, that these "relationships" do not cause harm. Children (and who go on to become adults) can be seriously disturbed by these "relationships". And the younger the children are when they're sexually abused the more disturbed they can be - uncontrollable, smearing themselves and the walls in their own excrement.

I find that very extreme for a consensual relationship.
Was that the case or are you refering to cases of actual abuse?

Legally i suppose it might be classed as abuse.
Maybe im wrong but werent very young teens given away in marriage way back?
Maybe even still today in less "civilized" countries.

I can imagine a sexual relationship for male or female at an age close to puberty and with immature ideologies regarding sex amongst peers, could cause a certain amount of promiscuity in later years and possibly self abuse with substances.
But im just speculating here.

In some ways i also wonder about our own base perceptions of relationships.
Do women often end up finding men similar to their brothers and/or father?
Sometimes i think this is true.However unconscious it may be.
If so, is a consenual relationship as mentioned that is truly consenual and not abuse as damaging psychologically as the taboo indicates?

Perhaps for the younger one in said relationship its linked to that idea somehow unconsciously.
Which begs to question the motives unconsciously of the older in that relationship too.
I do think though the human race in general has one hell of a time with sexuality,especially after religion got into our minds collectively.

I think personally most people are irresponsible/ignorant even in their twenties, let alone teens.

Odysseus

There is no such thing as a consensual sexual relationship between an adult and a child. A child cannot give informed consent to a sexual relationship, entering into a relationship with a minor is abuse it is that simple. There are no figures available but a significant amount of the patients I see have experience abusive relationships as a child, that is an adult had a sexual relationship with them; I think that tells us something about the effects of such relationships.


Anyway as this is a zombie thread its locked.