My topic was chosen out of interest in psychology and concern for societal functionality. It is a sensitive topic and serves as a precursor to uncomfortable empathy, however, it absolutely must be addressed. I believe it to be crucial to have the education on the signs presenting in pre-adolescence as therapy has proven to be most effective for individuals associated with this age group. That is the time when your brain is developing most; fine motor skills, morality, acceptable behaviors, ect.  There are many adverse psychological effects of abuse; when the signs go unnoticed, the journey to healing may be compromised and that individual will be exposed to many risks, such as, identity ambivalence, mental illness, sexual agitation, issues with social interaction, and many more. Recognition is just the first step in addressing the overall issue and where we go next as a society is completely up to us.

The novel, “My Dark Vanessa,” by Kate Elizabeth Russell,  showcases the adverse effects that adolescent sexual abuse has on one’s identity, self worth, and adult relationships. A teacher- student relationship involving a 15 year old, insecure female, leads to her having issues with finding out who she truly is. She believed that her sexuality was one of the few things she was good for, so she spent a significant amount of her life in unhealthy relationships and even goes as far as giving up on her aspirations to be consumed by a dead-end job. She loses herself after she becomes too old for her abuser and dwells on the idea of him discarding her, however, she still found comfort in the sound of his voice, recalling intimate situations between the two. She did not begin her journey to healing until exposure of his actions and other victims became apparent. 

Russell, Kate Elizabeth. My Dark Vanessa. HarperCollins, 2020.

The novel, “John Wayne Gacy: The True Crime Story of the Killer Clown,”  by Tyler Crane, educates the reader on the identity and livelihood of the infamous serial killer, John Wayne Gacy. Gacy claimed to have had multiple non-consensual sexual encounters within his lifetime, along with prolonged physical abuse from his father. These occurrences were ultimately large contributors to his abnormal psyche. He forced his victims to portray the inadequacies he felt to be true of himself.  The abuse affected his sexuality as he was arrested for sodomy prior to the heinous crimes committed by him. Contrary to the adverse effects, he was a very active member of his church even going as far as getting a picture signed, “Best of wishes Mr. Gacy,” by Rosalyn Carter, the first lady at the time. He manifested an alter ego called Pogo the Clown to disguise the true embodiment of psychopathy underneath the suit.

Crane, Tyler. John Wayne Gacy: The True Crime Story of the Killer Clown. CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2015.

The “Broken Crayons,” an art exhibit, by Amigos for Kids, is a gallery displaying pieces created by children that have endured abuse. Many of which depict pronounced genitalia and indirect helplessness, such as; missing limbs and facial features, blank stares, and intimidating creatures. The gallery was produced in order to bring awareness to the subject of child abuse, as well as, to provide education on the signs to look out for in pre-adolecent individuals. Although recognition of the signs proves that abuse has already taken place, it can also lead to necessary action, for instance; therapy is proven to be most effective on the pre-adolescent developing brain.

University of South Australia. "Broken Crayons Exhibit: Artwork courtesy of Dr. Elspeth McInnes." Broken Crayons, https://brokencrayons.us. 

The novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," by Stephen Chbosky, displays a few of the adverse effects of childhood sexual abuse; for instance, the main character is hospitalized for depression, his sociability is greatly impaired and building relationships proves to be difficult, he experiments with substances, and his instability throughout the novel is abundantly apparent. He lacks confidence and his goal is simply to get through high school as opposed to genuine enjoyment. His aspiration of being a writer is oftentimes the only comfort until he finds a group of people with their own issues. They give him a sense of belonging, however, he grows dependent on them and when the group minorly disburses, he breaks down due to the belief that he no longer fits in anywhere. Most of his issues stem from the abusive relationship with his aunt, in spite of that, following her death he has an emotional dependency on her memory as he felt that she had been the only person to ever truly understand him. 

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. MTV Books, 1999.

Many often refer to pedophilia as a broad term, however, it only describes the sexual attraction to prepubescent children. “Pedophilia may be distinguished from hebephilia (sexual preference for individuals who typically are between ages 11 and 14) and ephebophilia (sexual preference for late-stage adolescents, typically ages 15 and 16).”  The classification proves that sexual abuse is a problem for people at all stages in their lives. Any sort of abuse can have adverse effects, however, the likelihood increases as the age decreases due to the varying stages of developmental functionality. As we grow older, our brains’ ability to distinguish healthy coping mechanisms becomes easier (in the event of growth in a healthy environment).

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "pedophilia". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Jan. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/topic/pedophilia. Accessed 1 February 2024.

Child abuse is never limited to one specific time or place, take Maxim Gorky for instance. His mother was absent following his fathers death and he was placed under the guardianship of his abusive grandfather. At age twelve he was to leave home and learn to be self-dependent, he even educated himself. He writes about his grandmother and her loving nature throughout the difficult journey that was his childhood in Russia. This shows that despite abuse, there are people that make positive differences in your life no matter how small.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "My Childhood". Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Jan. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/My-Childhood. Accessed 2 February 2024.