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Speaking Point: Celebrity sex crimes are in the news again. First, actress Mackenzie Phillips reveals she had a long-term incestuous relationship with her famous father, musician John Philips, in a tell-all memoir and then director Roman Polanski is arrested in Switzeralnd related to sexual crges from 1977. How do we understand what they mean and howthey should be handled?
Dr. Sheila Forman is both a clinical psychologist and attorney who comments on the psychological and legal issues affecting our society today. She is the author of several self-help books and is on the faculty of Loyola Marymount University.
Speaking Point: · Legally it can be may be confusing as to what constitutes child sexual abuse. Can you define the legal and ethical definitions of what constitutes abuse? Do you believe the legal definition goes far enough in protecting the child? As a psychologist, how do you believe the law could be enhanced in order to further protect the well being of the child? Speaking Point: · The famous director Roman Polanski was recently arrested in Switzerland on a decades old arrest warrant stemming from a sex charge of raping and drugging a minor. Mr. Polanski claims the act was consensual and the survivor of the abuse now 43 wants Mr. Polanski not have spend more jail time. From both a legal and psychological perspective do you believe that Mr. Polanski should be brought back to the United States? Do you feel that the victims desires and psychological well being should trump the governments desire to have Mr. Polanski back in the country? What psychological message do you believe it sends to the world if Mr. Polanski does not spend more time in jail? Speaking Point: · In a tell-all book , the former childhood actress, Mackenzie Phillips, revealed that her dad, musician John Phillips of the '60s band the Mamas and the Papas, engaged with her in a long-term incestuous relationship. Do you believe that her life long struggle with drug abuse may be related to her sexual abuse? Speaking Point: · In addition she asked that people don’t hate her father. How do you believe this statemnt is a reaction to her trauma? What other psychological issues may survivors of incest face?
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