Child Accommodation Syndrome

Developed by Roland Summit, M.D.

Five Phases of Child Accommodation Syndrome

Phase 1:  Secrecy
Secrecy makes it clear that the action is bad and/or dangerous.  The average child does not ask questions and does not tell.  Many children are also manipulated, threatened, and/or told to keep the abuse a secret.  They feel they would be blamed, they would not be believed or that the person they told would not be able to protect them from the abuse.

Phase 2:  Helplessness
By the nature of the differences in their size and according to the relationship rules, the child is automatically in a subordinate position.  The child is likely to do as a trust adult says—remember that at least 80% of the time, the offender is someone the child knows.  A child’s helplessness leave little alternative for the child and they often must submit to the abuse.  A normal reaction is for the child to pretend to be sleeping.

Phase 3:  Delayed, Conflicted, and Unconvincing Disclosures
Most abuse is never disclosed while it is occurring.  Disclosure usually comes from family conflict where it might get “blurted out” or accidentally disclosed, or it may be disclosed when someone senses something is wrong and reaches out to the child.  The child’s report of the abuse may change depending on what incident of the abuse he or she is remembering…these may become blurred for the child.

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