Relationship Between The “Sexual Abuse Whirlpool” and Gender, Type of Abuse, Victim-Perpetrator Relationship, Disclosure, Psychological Reactions, and Revictimization of Sexual Abuse Victims

• Published date: 01 November 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X231159876
• Author: Burak M. Gonultas (Gönültaş)
• Date: 01 November 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X231159876

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2023, Vol. 67(15) 1493 –1508

© The Author(s) 2023

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X231159876

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Article

Relationship Between The

“Sexual Abuse Whirlpool”

and Gender, Type of

Abuse, Victim-Perpetrator

Relationship, Disclosure,

Psychological Reactions, and

Revictimization of Sexual

Abuse Victims

Burak M. Gonultas (Gönültaş)1

Abstract

According to the Sexual Abuse Whirlpool framework, when a vulnerable child is

noticed by a perpetrator, the state of vulnerability he/she is in will reach a severe

level. The SAW asserts that the method applied by the perpetrator has a multiplier

effect on the child’s vulnerability and accelerates the process resulting in abuse.

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the SAW and gender, type

of abuse, victim-perpetrator relationship, disclosure, psychological complaints and

reactions (PCRs), and revictimization of sexual abuse victims. A mixed research

method was used: First, the vulnerabilities of the victims were extracted from the

forensic interview forms with a qualitative method (n = 199). Then collected data

were tabulated and digitized quantitatively. Victims who were exposed to penetrative

abuses, who did not disclose, had serious PCRs, and who were re-victimized had

high scores of the SAW. Whirlpool would decrease in places where there is a quality

parent-child relationship.

Keywords

Sexual Abuse Whirlpool, vulnerability, sexual abuse, victim, Routine Activities Theory

1Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Turkey

Corresponding Author:

Burak M. Gonultas (Gönültaş), Department of Social Work, Faculty of Letters, Sivas Cumhuriyet

University, Merkez Kampüs, Sivas, 58100, Turkey

Email: mburakgonultas@gmail.com

1159876IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X231159876International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyGonultas (Gönültaş)

research-article2023

1494 International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 67(15)

Introduction

Recently, there has been a remarkable increase in victimization by neglect or inten-

tional violence against children. Children may be in a vulnerable and disadvantaged

situation or made vulnerable because of their situation, both of which may accelerate

their victimization (Bones, 2013; M. B. Gönültaş, 2018). In some cases, these victim-

izations may promote other victimizations and result in the child’s revictimization,

psychological trauma, and inability to disclose the abuse they have experienced

(Gewehr et al., 2021; M. B. Gönültaş, 2021; Papalia et al., 2017). Children’s situations

may also increase their risk of victimization by amplifying the perception of vulnera-

bility (Bones, 2013). Vulnerability is defined as “the state of being faced with the pos-

sibility of being harmed or attacked physically, emotionally, or psychologically” (Kasi

& Saha, 2019, p.1). Vulnerable children have a higher risk of neglect and abuse than

others; therefore, they need special care, attention, and protection (Finkelhor, 1993).

When children are in a vulnerable state, they may attract the attention of the abuser

(Finkelhor, 1994). In this context, M. B. Gönültaş (2021) suggested the Sexual Abuse

Whirlpool (SAW) framework based on the vulnerability of sexual abuse victims.

Sexual Abuse Whirlpool (SAW)

According to the SAW framework, the following two main vulnerability factors

impact sexual abuse victimization: (1) the child is vulnerable because of their circum-

stances and (2) the child becomes vulnerable because of circumstances devised by the

perpetrators. The process accelerates with the methods used by the perpetrators, and

the child becomes more vulnerable. When children are highly vulnerable, they are

exposed to the act of abuse. A whirlpool is a natural circular phenomenon that occurs

as a result of the meeting of two waves, and something or somebody being drawn into

the whirlpool is quickly pulled toward the bottom. In this context, according to SAW,

Factors 1 and 2 represent the two waves. When these two vulnerability dynamics meet,

a whirlpool occurs. This makes the child more vulnerable and quickly brings them

closer to the perpetrator. According to SAW, the perpetrator makes the child—who is

in vulnerable a situation but not enough to be a suitable target—a suitable target

through certain techniques and methods. For example, the function of abduction in

cases of child abduction for sexual motivation can be better understood in this context.

The act of sexual abuse is committed when the child is most vulnerable. According to

SAW, the vulnerabilities of the victim help bring the perpetrator close to them.

Factor 1: Vulnerability Due to Children’s Situations: Vulnerabilities of the Child (VC). Child

neglect causes or increases the children’s vulnerability. Parents or caregivers are the

reason for the occurrence of neglect. Coohey (2003) defined three types of neglect: (1)

physical neglect, which includes inadequate medical protection for the child, malnutri-

tion, self-care and hygiene problems, and unhealthy living conditions; (2) lack of

supervision, in the form of leaving children alone, being careless about the child’s

social relations, leaving the child in the care of incapable and uneducated adults; and