Child Sex Abuse Misconceptions: What Parents Need To Know To Protect Kids From Sexual Predators

Knowing the different child sex abuse misconceptions can help parents protect their kids from being sexually abused by sexual predators.

A recent story from Yahoo Parenting gave a list of different stereotypes that sexual predators hide behind which makes it easier for them to abuse innocent children.

According to the story, one of the stereotypes about sexual predators is that they are usually strangers. But according to statistics, about 90 percent of children sexually abused in the USA were preyed upon by people they know and not by strangers.

Another stereotype about sexual abuse of children is that incest is a rarity. But according to the report, half of the 90 percent of children sexually abused by people they know are family members or relatives of the children.

Parents should also know that child sexual predators usually appear normal and might also seem to love being around children, according to Yahoo Parenting. Women can also be child sexual predators according to the report.

Dr. Frank Lawlis, chairman of psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw's Advisory Board, talks about some vital information about the mindset of a child sexual predator in Dr. Phil's site:

"The typical sexual predator is very immature in his or her understanding of intimacy. It is like they really want closeness, but they lack the skills to feel satisfaction and trust. These feelings of frustration erupt into anger many times, and it is in this stage that the individual can become dangerous. Their acts are desperate. They try to find intimacy and caring for themselves, but when they can't find it inappropriate ways, they demand it or find a child who has little resistance," says Dr. Lawlis.

One of the most important child sex abuse misconceptions that people need to get over with is thinking that there is nothing they can do to prevent the abusers' despicable actions. "The power to stop abuse is in our hands. So what do we do? It's all about communication and empowering our children about their bodies," says Yahoo Parenting.