Few would argue that the experience of sexual abuse is deeply traumatic for a child. But in this explosive new book, psychologist Susan Clancy reports on years of research and contends that it is not the abuse itself that causes trauma—but rather the narrative that is later imposed on the abuse experience. Clancy demonstrates that the most common feeling victims report is not fear or panic, but confusion. Because children don€™t understand sexual encounters in the same ways that adults do, they normally accommodate their perpetrators— something they feel intensely ashamed about as adults. The professional assumptions about the nature of childhood trauma can harm victims by reinforcing these feelings. Survivors are thus victimized not only by their abusers but also by the industry dedicated to helping them. Path-breaking and controversial, The Trauma Myth empowers survivors to tell their own stories, and radically reshapes our understanding of abuse
Quote: It is based on interviews with adults, all of whom were victims of sexual abuse as children, who participated in research studies at Harvard University between October 1996 and August 2005.
During the process of writing, my first priority was to protect the confidentiality of the victims discussed in this book. For many it was the first time they had
spoken out about the sexual crimes against them. It was also very important to me to portray the reality of sexual abuse, the personality of the people who were abused, the complex interpersonal dynamics they faced both at the time of the abuse and in the aftermath, and the multitude of ways these crimes affect them throughout the course of their lives. In my attempt to reconcile both goals, I have opted to change the names of all the victims featured in this
book and to either omit or modify any clearly identifying characteristics (such as age, birth date, place of residence, and specific occupation).
That being said, the quotes throughout this book are taken verbatim from the actual victims’ transcribed interviews. In this way I hope to
respect and protect subject confidentiality while still accurately characterizing the humanity of these victims and the heartbreaking complexity of the crimes they experienced.
