Opinion ID: 870427
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony of Dr. Alexander Bivens

Text: Dr. Alexander Bivens, Ph.D., testified for the State as an expert in the area of child and adolescent psychology, with a specialization in child sexual abuse. He testified that it is typical for a child who has been sexually abused to wait a very long time to tell anyone about it, [11] especially when they are assaulted by a family member, [12] and identified the methods typically used by an abuser to gain the trust of the child. These methods include spending a lot of time with the child, giving them attention, touching them non-sexually, telling them they are special, treating them like an adult, or tricking them into feeling safe with the abuser. Dr. Bivens also testified about four primary processes abusers utilize: (1) seduction and testing, which involves taking normal adult-child touch, which would be a hug, a kiss, that sort of affectionate touching, ... and slowly incorporating sexual touch; (2) masking sex as a game, such as wrestling or tickling; (3) emotional-verbal coercion, in which the abuser talks about sex overtly or rewards for having sex, or tells the child that he or she will avoid punishment for other acts if the child has sex with the abuser; and (4) taking advantage of the child in a vulnerable position, such as approaching a child who is sleeping or who has just taken a bath.