GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE "STORY"

• the story as a whole should "hang together"
• different details independent from one another should all describe the same course of events
• contextual details should be logical and without discrepancies or inconsistencies
  
  

• a "tall" story is more likely to have a rigid form, & will be repeated in the same fashion on repetitions of the descriptions of the event(s). "I didn't do it". "I didn't do it". "I didn't do it". .................
• each repetition of an event should show some spontaneous changes - story remains intact inspite of these changes. Additions or deletions of details of different sequence of reproduction. The story is cumulative in nature, however, still consistent and coherent
  
  

• the greater the amount of detail included in a story, the more likely it is "credible"
• the greater the amount of detail included in a story, the less denial is presented, & hence, the greater the taking of responsibility for the offense(s). At the minimum, the admittance of "facts"
  
  
  

SPECIFIC CONTENTS OF THE "STORY"

• Recollection must include information about the time and or place which the event(s) occurred
• "real incidents have a temporal and spatial basis" (Undeutsch, 1967)
• facts of surroundings and everyday routines, habits of the family members, etc
• ability to re-collect location, time, other people's whereabouts enhances the credibility of the statement. habits can be remembered!!
  
  

• sexual abuse is a recursive, active offense involving actions and reactions on the part of both the perpetrator and the survivor
• the more details the perpetrator can give about the offense(s) the greater the understanding of what actually took place. the more details provided, the greater the motivation for treatment and lesser the risk for re-offense. the greater of self-responsibility. the better chance of evoking empathy for the survivor.
  
  

• the ability to give reproduction of conversation indicates willingness for treatment and better insight of own behaviour. the greater chance for detection of thought errors, deviant fantasies, and supporting system of offense(s)
  
  

• the offender's plan might include webs of secondary plans to prevent discovery. check for unexpected complications, such as "someone coming upstairs", then what happened ...
• the more thinking that went into "secondary plans" indicate a system of defense
• also indicate greater webs of thought errors and deviant sexual arousal
• might indicate having had successful but yet undiscovered offenses. similar and or other survivor(s)
  
  

• Olfactory memory; accuracy of previous sexual victimization
• friction, pain during penetration
• object(s) used
• mucosity, smell
• blood
• stains
• colour of nightie, panties, diaper, penatin cream, vick's vapour, medicine
• tv program prior and after offense(s)
• flashback
  
  

• family members routines
• mom doing the wash every Wednesday evening downstairs in the laundry room
  
  

• details of facts but "I didn't do it"
• "my sister was already having sex with her lezbo friend" "I saw them" "Now people accusing me"
• Refusing to accept "facts" related to offender
• extremely high denial. showing anger, disgust, and showing escalating behaviour of physical aggressiveness
• extreme fear of incarceration and abandonment
  
  

• previous victimization
• very poor social skills
• additional factors; LD's, ADHD, Tourette S., etc.
• anxiety
• a loner
• excessive masturbation
• pornographic tapes and magazines
• drinking &/or illicit drugs
• another "snake" - offender within the three generations
• previous "sex games" experience
• family violence
• multiple geographical moves, been to many schools
  
  

• I was drunk, stone out of my mind, etc...
  
  

• she's a dirty liar. you can ask anyone, she always lie. Even my mother can tell you, my sister is always grounded for stealing and lying
• she has sex with everyone. she's always getting into trouble in school
  
  
  

MOTIVATION-RELATED CONTENTS OF THE "STORY"

• back-pedalling of story. denying saying this or that
• changing body stance, showing anger, showing depression
• showing PMS in supportive circle
• No desire of getting caught in his webs of lies and distortions. Extreme high denial. Poor candidate for treatment. Usually supported by a system of people and "ideas"
  
  

• the "i don't remember" story over & over again
• maybe I have done it, maybe I have not. It happened so long ago. If you say so, but I don't remember
• initially resolved to keeping "silence" and a low profile
• prolonged denial helps build system of people to protect him. would improve on his school work, appearance, etc. A likeable student. diligent
  
  

• Continuing to change his story. The rate of change multiplies as time in treatment prolongs. Extreme selective memory. Would show proof he's a "forgetful" person. Maybe even a very poor student
  
  

• Feeling lousy all the time
• getting stuck in telling the "surface" story again and again & showing how "bad" a person he's
• might continue to use "self-flagellation" to avoid giving details of his offenses
  
  

• "victim" blaming stance to show he's innocent
  
  
  

OFFENSE-SPECIFIC ELEMENTS

• Willingness to examine closely his maintenance pattern, pre-offense pattern, and offenses. Able to articulate safety plan. Willingness to share plan with significant others. A good candidate for continuing treatment even without "leverage" - probation, etc.
• would finish victim empathy letter numerous revisions
• would finish writing a survivor letter to himself "the offender", with multiple revisions
• less angry