ABSTRACT
There is little doubt that variations in values, beliefs and practices pertaining to all aspects of sexuality have occurred throughout time. Attitudes concerning sexual practices between adults and children are no exception. Although sexual relations between adults and children have existed throughout history and across cultures, whether such behaviour was conceived of and defined as 'abuse' has been dependent on the societal values of the particular period (Mrazek, 1981; Mitterauer, 1994). For example, it is reported that in ancient Greece and Rome there was an atmosphere of acceptance of sexual practices between adults and children (de Mause, 1974; King, 1994). Child prostitution was widespread and slave children, particularly boys, were used for sexual gratification by adult men with the approval of the community (Banning, 1989). Castration of young boys to 'feminize' them for sexual purposes was apparently not uncommon, as was anal intercourse between male teachers and their male pupils (Mrazek, 1981 ). In other ancient civilizations, such as the lncan of pre-Spanish Peru, the Ptolemaic Egyptian, and old Hawaiian, certain types of incest were permitted in isolated, privileged classes (Mead, 1968; Davenport, 1977; Schultz, 1982; Banning, 1989; Mitterauer, 1994). Mrazek (1981) argues that changes in thought about particular sexual practices have occurred in a continuous cycle rather than in a linear progression. Clearly, what is defined as 'normal' in one period in history may be later defined as immoral and then criminal and then as psychopathological. There is usually a predominant attitude in a particular society at a specific point in history based largely on the socio-historical context.
