The Wives of Child Molesters: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Cases involving child molestation are offensive and difficult for all concerned in their investigation. This is true whether the investigation is conducted by law enforcement, child protective services, or medical personnel. While there have been an untold number of studies focusing on the molester and the child victim, there is a dearth of information on the mothers of the child victims. This chapter informs the reader on the data gathered from the in-depth interviews of 20 women who were the spouses or exclusive partners of men who molested 34 of their biological children. It provides the reader with insight into the women's history, their experience with childhood abuse, and their relationship with the molester. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)