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Abstract(s)
Actualmente o abuso sexual intrafamiliar de crianças é compreendido
como uma das mais significativas ameaças ao bem-estar e segurança das mesmas. Intervir nesta área requer esforço e um trabalho coordenado entre os profissionais que participam no decorrer do processo Judicial (Alberto, 2006).
Devido à delicadeza da matéria em causa, a avaliação psicológica forense torna-se complexa, exigindo uma especial competência e sensibilidade por parte dos profissionais que nela intervêm, de modo a que a mesma possa ser conclusiva e não se incorra num processo de vitimação secundária (Machado &
Gonçalves, 2002).
O presente estudo tem como objectivo central aceder aos significados e crenças que as crianças vítimas de abuso sexual intrafamiliar possuem acerca do momento da avaliação psicológica forense e acerca do psicólogo forense que realiza a mesma. Neste sentido, procuramos aceder às percepções e
significados desta experiência, através da realização de uma entrevista
qualitativa a uma amostra constituída por 5 crianças com idades compreendidas entre os 10 e os 12 anos. Os dados empíricos resultantes das narrativas das entrevistas foram analisados através de procedimentos de
tratamento e interpretação de dados qualitativos, tendo por base a Grounded
Theory. Os resultados demonstram como os entrevistados conceberam a
globalidade do momento da avaliação psicológica forense como uma experiência positiva, apesar de evidenciarem desconforto inicial na abordagem da sua história de vitimação, o qual foi ultrapassado pela maioria das crianças no decorrer da entrevista. É igualmente visível o conforto relacional quer em relação ao psicólogo forense que os acompanhou e que realizou a entrevista de avaliação psicológica quer em relação ao local de realização da mesma.
Terminamos com as limitações do nosso estudo e sugestões para futuras investigações na área das crianças e jovens em risco.
Today, the intrafamiliar sexual abuse of children is realized as one of the most significant threats to their well-being and safety. Intervening in this area demands an effort and a coordinated work among the professionals that participate during the judicial proceeding (Alberto 2006). Given the delicacy of the subject-matter, the forensic psychological evaluation becomes complex, requiring a special competence and sensitivity of the professionals who intervene in it, in order that it can be conclusive and we don´t fall into a secondary victimization process (Machado & Gonçalves, 2002). The present research aims to access the meanings and convictions that the children, victims of intrafamiliar sexual abuse, have got, not only about the moment of the forensic psychological assessment, but also about the forensic psychologist who makes it. Therefore, we tried to access the perceptions and meanings of this experience, conducting a qualitative interview to a sample constituted by 5 children aged between 10 and 12. The empiric data resulting from the narratives of the interviews were analysed through procedures of qualitative data handling and interpretation, on the basis of the Grounded Theory. The results show how the interviewees conceived the whole moment of the forensic psychological evaluation as a positive experience despite showing clearly an initial embarrassment when asked about their history of victimization, which was overcome in the course of the interview. It is also perceptible the relational comfort both towards the forensic psychologist who accompanied them and conducted the interview of psychological evaluation, and towards the premises where it took place. To finish we present the limitations of our study and suggestions for future investigations in what concerns children and young people at risk.
Today, the intrafamiliar sexual abuse of children is realized as one of the most significant threats to their well-being and safety. Intervening in this area demands an effort and a coordinated work among the professionals that participate during the judicial proceeding (Alberto 2006). Given the delicacy of the subject-matter, the forensic psychological evaluation becomes complex, requiring a special competence and sensitivity of the professionals who intervene in it, in order that it can be conclusive and we don´t fall into a secondary victimization process (Machado & Gonçalves, 2002). The present research aims to access the meanings and convictions that the children, victims of intrafamiliar sexual abuse, have got, not only about the moment of the forensic psychological assessment, but also about the forensic psychologist who makes it. Therefore, we tried to access the perceptions and meanings of this experience, conducting a qualitative interview to a sample constituted by 5 children aged between 10 and 12. The empiric data resulting from the narratives of the interviews were analysed through procedures of qualitative data handling and interpretation, on the basis of the Grounded Theory. The results show how the interviewees conceived the whole moment of the forensic psychological evaluation as a positive experience despite showing clearly an initial embarrassment when asked about their history of victimization, which was overcome in the course of the interview. It is also perceptible the relational comfort both towards the forensic psychologist who accompanied them and conducted the interview of psychological evaluation, and towards the premises where it took place. To finish we present the limitations of our study and suggestions for future investigations in what concerns children and young people at risk.
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Keywords
Abuso sexual de menores Abuso sexual intrafamiliar Avaliação psicológica forense Child sexual abuse Intrafamiliar sexual abuse Forensic psychological evaluation