ABSTRACT
I've been through the system-foster care, child protection workers, social workers, guardians, family court-and as an adult, I've tried to go to mental health clinics, therapists. I wanted the abuse to stop. I want to get help for the problems from the abuse. But whenever I talk to people who are supposed to help me, they seem to forget that I was the one who was abused. They treat me like I was the abuser or like I'm going to turn into one. Can't they see that the two are very different? Can't they keep their information straight? (Palo, a young Native American male with a history of childhood sexual abuse)
THIS CHAPTER FOCUSES on the evolution of the SAM (Sexual Abuse of Males) model of dynamics and effects. Beginning with a brief explanation of a conceptual model, it presents three frameworks that continue to be instrumental in delineating the experience of sexual assault, particularly as it pertains to females. Next, this chapter transitions to a lengthy summary of the sexual abuse of males knowledge base, concluding with a description of the strategies employed to develop the SAM model of dynamics and effects.
