Possible Reasons Why Children Do Not Disclose Sexual Abuse

• Victim's feelings of shame, embarrassment and guilt toward mother and/or father and family
• Passive behavior, low value of self, feel that she or he will be branded
• Lack of awareness that this form of sexual activity is inappropriate
• Fear of being removed from the home
• Fear of being responsible for break-up of the family
• Fear of losing family
• Alienation from rest of family; may be rejected if they tell someone
• Social isolation of family, socially deprived
• Dependency of victim, no ego development
• Threats to child, such as “I’ll hurt you,” or offender tells child she or he will go to jail
• Ill-equipped to deal with the outside world, immature, scared
• Fear of incest occurring with next eldest child; protective of younger child
• Confusion
• Dysfunctional family system, denial and projection of blame toward the child, chemical dependency, lack of empathy toward the child, lack of communication or chaotic lifestyle
• They did tell but did not receive any help
  (i.e. reported to a parent but they did not believe them or did not report)
• Does not feel pain, physically feels “good”
• Fear of retaliation from the perpetrator (threats to hurt mom or other siblings)
• Fears that they (the child) may get in trouble for telling