Alleged false accusations of abuse

Characteristics, consequences, and coping

Bibliographic Data

ID21602428
AuthorsSanne T L Houben (0000-0001-5044-8741, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands, corresponding author), Linsey Raymaekers (Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands), Leonie Loop (Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands), Desiree Vandervelt (Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands), Lawrence Patihis (0000-0003-2870-8986, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom), Melanie Sauerland (0000-0002-7401-1365, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands)
Year2024
Volume32
Issue1
Pages90-99
Publication date2024-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueMemory (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0965-8211 • E-ISSN: 1464-0686
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09658211.2023.2284652
PMID38011319
OpenAlexW4389042230
LanguageEN
References cited32

We have very little knowledge about the characteristics and consequences of false abuse accusations. Sixty-one members of a German support organisation for allegedly falsely accused individuals provided information about themselves, the accuser, the accusation, the consequences of the allegation, and their coping strategies. The majority of respondents were male (90%), accused of sexual abuse (89%), and a parent of the accuser (71%). The initial allegations were frequently (72%) associated with the accuser undergoing psychotherapy. The consequences for the accused were psychological, physiological, familial, job-related, personal, and legal in nature. These included a loss of contact (98%), altered family dynamics (92%), depressive symptoms (48%), and problems focussing at work (44%). Eleven accused (18%) faced legal prosecution, but none of them were charged. Frequent strategies to cope with the allegation included contacting the victim support organisation (100%), seeking therapy (51%), contacting counselling centres (43%) and other victim support organisations (23%). Most of the accused felt supported by their environment (84%). Supporting and elaborating upon previous studies, this study exposes the potential consequences of alleged false accusations

Allegation · False accusation · Medical emergency · Poison control · Political science · Psychiatry · Sexual abuse · Suicide prevention · Child Abuse and Trauma · Deception detection and forensic psychology · Law · Medicine · Psychology · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending · Social Psychology

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