SEXUAL HARASSMENT ;

psychosocial implications

Nwakanma,N.C @UPTH
OUTLINE

 Introduction
 Epidemiology
 Risk factors
 Psychosocial implications
 SH and mental illness
 SH and the therapist
 conclusion
introduction

 Du Plesis et al defines Sexual harassment as ‘a

range of unwanted conducts of a sexual nature.’
 1980 Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission defines it as ‘unwelcome sexual
advances, requests for sexual favors and other
verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.’’
 Stanko (1988) ‘‘unwanted sexual attention’’
classification

1) Co-ercive trade off / Quid pro quo

harassment
2) Hostile environment type
which includes various forms of ;
 Verbal and Non verbal behaviours
 Sexual favoritism
 Physical contact ; which ranges from
touching to sexual assault and rape
 Other specific types include stalking , incest ,
rape ,child sexual abuse.
 Stalking ; Repeated unwanted and intrusive
targeting of a particular victim.
 Incest ; unlawful sexual intercourse between
members of a family unit.
 Rape :Unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or
girl without her consent or with her consent if the
consent is obtained by ; force , threat ,
intimidation , fear of harm or by means of false or
fraudulent representations as to the nature of the
act or in the case of a married woman by
personating her husband.(30 ; 357 criminal code
CAP 77 LFN)
 Child sexual abuse
 The central feature of SH is sexuality as a
basis for Unfair discrimination and varying
degrees of violations of human dignity and
civil rights of the victims.
 Wherever unfair discrimination occurs, there
is usually an overt or subtle unequal power
dynamics ; viz-a-viz in privileged
relationships, legitimate/position power ,
gender dominated occupations, patriachial-
capitalist societies.
Epidemiology (1)

 38% hostile hallways study by American

Association of University Women
 27% of Secondary Sch students in
Netherlands
 A nigerian study by Yusuf (2008) found 42 %
women experienced sexual harassment at
their workplace in the lagos state civil servce.
epidemiology

 Every 2 minutes someone in the US is

sexually assaulted.
 Only 26% of rape are committed by a
stranger.
 16 – 24 yr Old females are at the greatest
risk for rape in the US
 80% of victims of rape are below 30yrs
 10% of victims are estimated to be males
Risk factors

Child sexual abuse

Female gender
Age
Social class
IQ
Personality
Social skills
PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
 Limits participation
 Loss of self esteem
 Shame
 Reduced productivity
 Conflict
 STI / AIDS
 Physical injuries
 Unwanted pregnancy
 Costs to the community
PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
 Acute Stress reaction/Disorder
 PTSD
 Anxiety disorders ; GAD , Panic disorder
 Dysthymia
 Depression
 Sexual dysfunction
 Conversion disorders
 Substance Use disorders; alcohol , bdz
 Borderline Personality Disorder
Sexual Harassment and Mental
illness
 Mania
 Dementia ; FTD
 Mental Retardation
 Schizophrenia
 Delusional disorders
 Alcohol Use disorder
 Sex addiction
 Conduct disorder / Antisocial PD
 Paraphilia
And the therapist

Sexual Misconduct
 Civil liabilities
 Criminal sanctions
 Licensure and Ethical codes

Duties to third party

 Tarasoff 1
 Tarasoff 2
Conclusion

Sexual harassment is a unfortunate reality in

our workplaces and clinical practice
THANK YOU