Child Sexual Abuse - And How To Prevent It
Channel: Alex Zorach
Date: 2014-08-12

Here I talk about how the idea that people can be classified into either "good people" or "bad people" is a dangerous idea that can facilitate child sexual abuse, by making people unwilling to entertain the possibility that someone they know, like, and trust has committed abuse.  I mention that this motivation may be a factor in how many churches and other communities cover up abuse, allowing it to go on for years.

I talk about how we can help protect children from abuse by embracing the idea that people are complex, and that people can have a lot of good qualities and still do terrible things, as a foundational part of our value system.  This belief can help us to be open to the possibility that people we know, like, and trust may have committed abuse, and this will make it more likely that we listen to people who speak up against abuse, and investigate such allegations, rather than dismissing them, or worse, attacking or retaliating against people who accuse others of such abuse.