cture of boys and girls, for example--are not likely to
be the aggressors or even onlookers in any neighborhood undressing
episode. It holds nothing for them.

On the other hand, a child may have a very clear idea of sex
differences, may have dressed and undressed freely with sister or
brother, and still be active in undressing episodes as an emotional
outlet. One such boy was mother-bound. He had been brought up a
goody-goody. In order to demonstrate that he was no sissy but a
thorough-going he-man of eleven, he headed a gang of girl tormentors.

Sex misconduct as recreation, as something to do, has a long record. In
a dull and dispirited world, girls and boys find the thrill of adventure
in games, clubs, and play of all kinds, with sex in its most unsavory
form as the central theme. A little nine-year-old who had been a
frequent offender was asked what in all the world she would like most to
do. Promptly she answered, "Go roller-skating." "Which would you rather
do, go roller-skating or play 'father and mother?'" With shining eyes
she answered, "Oh, go roller-skating!" There was no doubt of this
child's sincerity, no doubt of the drab, pinched quality of her meager
opportunity for childish fun.

Sex activity often has its origin in a home situation. In these days of
apartment dwelling and the crowding together of many families, a child
must be very inattentive indeed not to have gathered through
conversation and observation much firsthand knowledge of the adult
sexual relationship. Children should, of course, be aware of the love of
their fathers and mothers for each other as well as for themselves, but
love-making in its final forms is baffling and disturbing to their
emotional natures, and observation of it often leads to sex misconduct.

The most serious type of sex activity is that caused by a premature
sexual experience at the hands of some adult, often an elderly and
trusted person. Even if the episode occurred but once, and the offender
left, never to be seen again, a psychic injury or trauma frequently (not
always) results and manifests itself in obsessive sex behavior.

When premature sexual experience _is_ the motivating factor in sex
misconduct, most careful guidance is necessary, lest the future love
life be endangered. After relieving the child of feelings of guilt, the
conduct of the older offender must be explained in terms of his senility
or his mental state. "He is not normal." "He should be in a