Laura M. Markowitz

Childhood sexual abuse is much more prevalent than previously imagined, argues Laura M. Markowitz in the following viewpoint. She contends that children who are molested or sexually abused by adults experience deep and long-term psychological damage. According to Markowitz, many of these children cope with the pain of sexual abuse by blocking out conscious memories of the events. These memories, Markowitz maintains, often remain suppressed for years until flashbacks and painful emotions in adulthood cause survivors to enter therapy for help in recalling their memories and healing from the abuse. Markowitz is a senior editor at Family Therapy Networker, a bimonthly periodical for mental health professionals.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Markowitz, what did Diana Russell discover in her 1977 study on incest?
2.What are some of the difficulties in...