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Abstract

Concern about the acceptability of various child-to-child sexual behaviors has heightened during the past few years. Some clinicians and researchers have put forward opinions regarding which sexual behaviors between children are acceptable and/or developmentally appropriate and which sexual behaviors are unacceptable and/or developmentally inappropriate. However, these opinions have little empirical support. This article describes a study of 335 professionals' opinions about the acceptability of various noncoercive sexual behaviors between children at ages 4,8, and 12. It also describes a survey of 664 undergraduates' recollections of sexual experiences that they had with other children prior to the age of 13. The ways in which this research may inform beliefs about sexual encounters between children are discussed.

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Sexual Behaviors between Children: Professionals' Opinions and Undergraduates' Recollections

Abstract

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