1 MGG2602 Sexual Trauma - Assignments
MGG2602 EXAM PREPARATION – Previous Assignments
This document is an easy to read compilation of past UNISA Assignment Questions and Answers
Answers are motivated by a combination of:
• Excerpts from the Tutorial matter
Assignments covered are:
• Assignment 01: 2016
• Assignment 03: 2016
• Assignment 01: 2017
• Assignment 03: 2017
• Assignment 01: 2018
• Assignment 03: 2018
Please note: This document is an additional tool for exam preparation. The Stuvia-user that compiled
and uploaded this document takes no responsibility for incorrect answers. Students must ensure
that they study the prescribed material and understand the content.
,2 MGG2602 Sexual Trauma - Assignments
ASSIGNMENT 01: 2016 - Unique number: 748084
Indicate whether the statements below are true or false.
Question 1
New Morality refers to the new trend towards getting back to values of the past such as prizing
virginity and abstaining from sex until marriage.
Answer: This statement is false.
Refer: TL 102/2016, pg. 33
Reasoning: Rather than sexuality being regarded as something that has to be denied and/or
controlled, abstained from if unmarried and avoided if wanting to be creative and
productive, the New Morality regards it as a normal drive and as a form of
expression. Sexual standards are no longer considered to be the foundation of a
society’s moral fibre. Human sexuality is acknowledged as a basic human function
that can be expressed in harmless ways. The New Morality evident in developed
nations has begun to challenge previously held sexual attitudes and norms that
were upheld by Jewish-Christian beliefs for centuries.
Question 2
Traumatic events cannot seriously damage the mental health of the people who experience them.
Answer: This statement is false.
Refer: TL 102/2016, pg. 8
Reasoning: Traumatic events may damage the mental health of individuals who experience
them.
Question 3
Children should be taught all biological facts about sex as early as possible.
Answer: This statement is false.
Refer: TL 102/2016, pg. 42
Reasoning: It is important for adults not to overwhelm young children with biological facts
about sex that they cannot understand or have no need to know until they are
older.
Question 4
Indirect traumatisation refers to trauma experienced by witnesses or people close to those who
have experienced trauma.
Answer: This statement is true.
Refer: TL 102/2016, pg. 9
Reasoning: Lewis (1999) asserts that a traumatic event may affect witnesses and those who
have direct contact with the direct victim, which is termed indirect traumatisation.
Question 5
Successful completion of this course qualifies you as a counsellor in the field of sexual trauma.
,3 MGG2602 Sexual Trauma - Assignments
Answer: This statement is false.
Refer: TL 102/2016, pg. 26
Reasoning: Most authors confirm the belief that it is not appropriate for helpers to work with
sexual abuse if they are not well-trained in this field. Salter (1995) suggests that
therapists working with sexual abuse should have post-graduate training in this
field.
Question 6
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychological illness that may affect people who have been
exposed to a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death or injury.
Answer: This statement is true.
Refer: TL 102/2016, pg. 21
Reasoning: The DSM 5 criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder
The DSM 5 defines specific criteria for this diagnosis. Below is a brief summary of
the criteria:
- the person has been exposed to death, threatened death, actual or
threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence
- the traumatic event is persistently re-experienced
- persistent effortful avoidance of distressing trauma-related stimuli after the
event
- negative alterations in cognitions and mood that began or worsened after
the traumatic event
- trauma-related alterations in arousal and reactivity that began or worsened
after the traumatic event
- persistent symptoms for more than one month
- significant symptom-related distress or functional impairment (e.g., social,
occupational)
- disturbance is not due to medication, substance use or other illnesses
Question 7
All survivors of sexual abuse need to go for counselling in order to overcome the harmful effects of
their abuse.
Answer: This statement is false.
Refer: TL 102/2016, pg. 116
Reasoning: Many consumers of social and psychiatric services have a history of sexual abuse,
but there are many survivors who never present themselves for assistance at all.
Many of those who choose not to go for counselling perceive themselves as well
adjusted. There is a dearth of research on those survivors who survive without
mental health intervention.
Question 8
In ancient Greece, adult men were permitted to have sex with adolescent boys.
Answer: This statement is true.
Refer: TL 102/2016, pg. 32
, 4 MGG2602 Sexual Trauma - Assignments
Reasoning: Ancient Greece was more accepting of male homosexuality in certain forms. An
adult male, responsible for an adolescent boy’s intellectual and moral development,
was permitted to engage in homosexual acts with the adolescent.
Question 9
It is possible for one child to sexually abuse another child.
Answer: This statement is true.
Refer: TL102/2016, pg. 82
Reasoning: Child sexual abuse is any form of sexual activity with a child by an adult, or another
child who has power over the child.
Question 10
Traditional practices such as female genital mutilation are not traumatic because they form part of
cultural rituals.
Answer: This statement is false.
Refer: TL102/2016, pg. 17
Reasoning: Female genital mutilation, a traditional practice in some African cultures, may result
in sexual trauma.
Question 11
Continuous trauma refers to situations in which the victim is under the control of the offender and
cannot escape for a long period of time.
Answer: This statement is false.
Refer: TL102/2016, pg. 11
Reasoning: Complex trauma is a term given to situations in which victims experience prolonged,
repeated traumatic events. There is usually a relationship between the victim and
the offender. Typical examples of these situations are the woman who experiences
marital rape or the child who is sexually abused by a parent. This form of trauma is
very damaging, because the victim is under the control of the offender and cannot
escape for an extended period. This statement therefore refers to complex trauma.
Question 12
An incident that is stressful for one person may be considered traumatic by another person.
Answer: This statement is true.
Refer: TL102/2016, pg. 11
Reasoning: What may be considered a “stressful event” by one person, may be regarded as a
“crisis” by another. What one person experiences as “stressful”, another may
experience as “trauma”.
Question 13
The quality of the counsellor’s advice is not the most critical component in the healing of trauma.
