Research has documented (Summit 1983) stages of accommodation for CSA. It is described as the child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome.

However, they are quick to caution “this syndrome is intended to help clinicians understand the dynamics of abuse, not to diagnose abuse. There is no such thing as a child sexual abuse syndrome or a specific cluster of symptoms that are diagnostic of sexual abuse.”

The sexual abuse of girls by men has been characterised in five (5) phases of accommodation:

1. secrecy
2. helplessness
3. entrapment and accommodation
4. delayed, conflicted, and unconvincing disclosure
5. retraction

Summit’s Rationale:

• the process of accommodation occurs because the child learns that she must be available without complaint
• the child may find various ways to accommodate, primarily, by maintaining secrecy in order to keep the family together
• by turning to imaginary companions
• by employing altered states of consciousness
• others may become aggressive, demanding, hyperactive
• disclosure brings accusations and counteraccusations
• retraction keeps “the peace” at home