| CODE | PLC1003 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Theoretical Perspectives on Child Abuse | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Pastoral Theology, Liturgy and Canon Law | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit explores the question of whether there are ways to identify perpetrators preferably before they abuse. While no silver bullet exists yet in terms of predictive assessment tools, it is nonetheless possible to study the link between abusers and sexual abuse a posteriori, through the analysis of psychological profiles and personal histories of offenders. Theoretical paradigms will also be studied along with the often typical cognitive distortions exhibited. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit intends to analyse the phenomenon from a scientific perspective also by distinguishing it from popular stereotyping and other myths by portraying the whole spectrum of offenders. By highlighting the most common characteristics and behaviours it attempts to create a typical profile of the sex offender which could help in reducing risk factors. It also intends to understand the causes, dynamics and effects of child abuse by taking into consideration both biological and psychological theories. This study-unit aims to help the student to be better equipped to appreciate the importance of a proper vetting, recruiting and monitoring when it comes to people working or interacting with children and young people. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) distinguish myths from facts concerning child sexual abuse; (b) acquire a scientific understanding of the phenomenon both in terms of predisposing factors and situational factors; (c) discuss typical profiles of perpetrators. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) identify risk factors with regard to sexual abuse; (b) detect red flags in the behaviour of adults working with children; (c) monitor situational factors that could interact with the possible predisposing factors of the offender. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts - Corby, B., Shemmings, D. & Wilkins, D., Child abuse: An evidence base for confident practice. McGraw-Hill Education (UK), 2012. - Morrison, T., Erooga, M. & Beckett, R. C.(eds.), Sexual offending against children: Assessment and treatment of male abusers. Psychology Press, 1994. - Seto, M.C., Pedophilia and sexual offending against children: Theory, assessment, and intervention. American Psychological Association, 2008. Supplementary readings - Aletti, M. & Galea, P., Preti Pedofili? La Questione degli abusui Sessuali nella Chiesa. Citadella Editrice, 2011. - Brendan, G. & Greer, J.M., The Dark Night of the Catholic Church: Examining the Child Sexual Abuse Scandal. Kevin Mayhew (UK), 2011. - John Jay College, The Nature and Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the US 1950-2002, Washington D.C, 2004. (available online) - Lanning, K., Child Molesters. A Behavioural Analysis, National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, 2010. - Sexual Abuse in the Context of the Roman Catholic Church: A Review of Literature from 1981-2013, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 23:6, 635-656. - Zollner, H., “Safeguarding Minors: Challenges and Perspectives”, in Safeguarding. Reflecting on Child Abuse, Theology and Care, eds. K. Demasure, K.A. Fuchs & H. Zollner, Peeters, 2018, 225-234. Other reading material will be given in the course of the lectures. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Paul Galea |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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