From Individual to Community: Psychological Analysis of Clergy Sexual Misconduct
摘要
This chapter examines the complex psychological factors that contribute to clergy sexual abuse at the individual and institutional levels. Using the case study of @letters_from_rahab and Covenant Fellowship Church (CFC), the chapter explores the psychological profiles of perpetrators, the traumatic experiences of victim-survivors, the roles of enablers and bystanders, and the institutional dynamics that enable and perpetuate abuse. It discusses how perpetrators exploit spiritual authority, groom victims, and manipulate religious language to justify their actions. The chapter delves into the profound psychological consequences for victim-survivors, including complex trauma, spiritual crisis, and the impact of institutional betrayal. It also examines the psychological mechanisms that lead enablers to minimize or rationalize abuse, institutional dynamics of defensiveness, prioritization of image management, and lack of accountability that contribute to a culture of secrecy and complicity. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach that integrates psychological insights with a critical analysis of social and cultural factors to effectively address clergy sexual abuse and prioritize the needs of victim-survivors.