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Psychological predictors of children's competency as witnesses in sexual abuse trials.

Record Type:	Electronic resources : Monograph/item
Title/Author:	Psychological predictors of children's competency as witnesses in sexual abuse trials.
Author:	Jacobson, Lilly Glancy.
Description:	111 p.
Notes:	Adviser: Douglas Barnett.
Notes:	Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 63-03, Section: B, page: 1564.
Contained By:	Dissertation Abstracts International63-03B.
Subject:	Psychology, Clinical.
Online resource:	http://pqdd.sinica.edu.tw/twdaoapp/servlet/advanced?query=3047558
ISBN:	0493620486

Psychological predictors of children's competency as witnesses in sexual abuse trials.
Jacobson, Lilly Glancy.

Psychological predictors of children's competency as witnesses in sexual abuse trials. [electronic resource] - 111 p.

Adviser: Douglas Barnett.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Wayne State University, 2002.

This study explored how children's psychological functioning, coping style, and experience of the courtroom environment contribute to their ability to testify in sexual abuse proceedings in criminal court. Participants in the study were 27 child witnesses ages seven- to fifteen-years-old who were alleged victims of sexual abuse. A coding system was developed to evaluate the competence of children's testimony on the witness stand. Ratings were made of the amount of detail included in children's responses to attorney questions, the coherency and consistency of their statements throughout the trial process, the confidence they exhibited on the witness stand, and the emotional distress displayed during their testimonies. Attorney characteristics including style of questioning, vocabulary, and linguistic complexity were also examined to determine how they related to children's competency as witnesses. Details of the alleged sexual abuse and the trial process were obtained from court records. Children's psychological functioning, including symptom levels and verbal cognitive functioning were assessed prior to the trials through interviews conducted with the children and their primary caregivers. Results indicated that older children's responses on the witness stand included greater content and detail as well as coherency and consistency in their testimony. Children with higher verbal cognitive functioning evidenced greater confidence on the witness stand. Children whose abuse began at an older age reported more details about the alleged abuse, and there was a trend for their testimony to include greater coherency and consistency throughout their questioning on the witness stand. When questioned about events central to the alleged abuse, children who reported more severe sexual molestation recounted more details on the witness stand. The child's relationship with the alleged perpetrator was associated with their coherency and consistency on the witness stand, with children who described a closer relationship being rated as less coherent and consistent in their testimony. The duration of the alleged abuse also was negatively associated with children's coherency, although only when questioned about central details. Psychological symptom level including depression, anxiety and PTSD were unrelated to children's testimony competence. Children with elevated Lie Scale scores gave fewer details of the abuse and were less confident in their answers to attorney questions. Prosecuting attorneys were more child-sensitive in their style of questioning and used more appropriate vocabulary and sentence structure than did defense attorneys. Prosecuting attorney's sensitivity was positively associated with children's coherency and confidence as witnesses. The length of the trial and number of times a child testified was unrelated to testimony competence. Children's testimony ratings were not associated with the guilt or innocence of the defendant. Public policy implications of the study's results are discussed.

ISBN: 0493620486Subjects--Topical Terms:

212546
Psychology, Clinical.

Psychological predictors of children's competency as witnesses in sexual abuse trials.
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