Research programm
Since its activities were started in 1998, the Foundation has chosen
to operate as a fund for scientific research. This means that it
envisions strong cooperation with other research organizations and
with institutes that develop research programmes. In view of its
limited financial means, it also envisions cooperation with other
funds which are interested in its core area. A programme provides a
strategic and thematically compact framework in which the fund can
effectively finance interrelated research and development projects
on the basis of clear procedures. It is also important that a
programme focuses on themes and principles that are not yet covered
by the programmes of ‘established’ research institutes.
The objective of the research programme is:
• to obtain more insight into sexual development processes in
relation to social, emotional, cognitive and physical development;
• to contribute to sexual emancipation and sexual health;
• to contribute to helping develop the capacity for relationships,
an awareness of interaction and a sense of responsibility;
• to support parents, guardians, educators, teachers, public
relations officers and care and welfare workers by effectively
channelling the knowledge gained from research;
• to promote debate in circles of lawyers, sociologists, government
officials and politicians on the social and legal frameworks that
are needed for the developments named under the second and third
points.
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Priorities
In order to achieve this objective, a number of priorities have been
formulated in the context of this programme.
• The fund views sexuality as part of a broader whole, as a
component aspect of the broader field of individual development (in
this case of children and young people). This is primarily about
socio-cognitive functioning (and development) and
interactive-emotional functioning (and development). What this means
is that research should make manifest the place and function of
sexuality in that whole, in conjunction with other aspects of
development.
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• New research themes are approached from the perspective of
discovery, action and experience of children and young people. This
means that not only their conscious actions and perceptions are
important, but also what moves and affects them subconsciously.
Although children and young people may not be aware of the
significance to their daily lives, research has shown that their
experiences can be of great value to their future development.
• The programme must therefore clearly focus on the societal
context. The effects of the different social systems and cultures,
including their values and standards, social controls, stimulating
and inhibiting influences, should also be research themes.
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• There should also be attention to how people develop and use a
broad range of interactional and social skills. These skills will
primarily be important when young people become involved in erotic
and sexually tinted interactions shortly before, during and after
puberty.
• It is also important to discover how children and young people
integrate knowledge, experience and esteem or recognition.
Essentially, this involves the gradual exploration of bits and
pieces of knowledge and experience that will later prove to be part
of what our society refers to as ‘sexuality’.
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• The considerable differences between boys and girls in their
development, in the way they perceive sexuality and their own sexual
functioning, need to have a systematic place in the programme.
• After all, the social and societal force field in which
development takes place can only be brought into focus if the entire
field is studied using an integrated approach. Possible starting
points might be school and upbringing, social rules, government
policy, legislation and regulations in the present era.
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Demarcation of field
The programme relates to the sexual development, sensual perception
and sexual health of children and young people aged from 0 to 15 (16
years of age is the statutory age at which people may freely enter
into sexual contacts and relationships). This refers to sexual
development in a broad sense, which also includes the development of
the capacity to interact and form relationships. In addition to
offering a description of the various phases of sexual development,
research should also investigate the influence (be it positive or
negative) on sexual development and sexual health of individual and
personal factors and experiences, factors related to family and
environment, and societal factors. Research of problems in sexual
development and sexual health is also appropriate within this
programme. This sort of research is particularly important for
purposes of education and prevention and more in general, for policy
in the field of public health. It is obviously a field of research
where a multidisciplinary approach is highly suitable.
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Two-track policy
In view of the basic assumptions used by the fund, a two-track
policy is pursued in the research programming. The first track
involves research that takes stock, describes, identifies problems
and provides insight, as explained above. Surely initially, emphasis
will lie on this track. The second track involves research that has
a more practical orientation and is aimed at offering professional
support, as well as development and implementation projects, with
the object of furthering professionalization in the various groups
of practitioners and enhancing their knowledge. This type of
research can be concluded with evaluation and study of the effects.
After making adjustments if necessary, implementation can take place
on a broader scale.
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Outside the scope of the programme
Research in the field of sexual abuse falls outside the framework of
this programme. However, a number of the findings of the research
programme will undoubtedly be useful for clinicians in the diagnosis
and treatment of this problem. If studies of sexual development
should point to sexual abuse as an influential factor, this will be
included in the analyses. Research exclusively focusing on
paedophile contacts and relationships, the so-called
transgenerational relationships, falls outside the scope of this
programme as well. However, this type of relationship will come up
in the research of sexual development and sexual health. In that
case they will get research attention which is necessary.
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