While difficult to define in an absolute sense, there are guidelines for the Army to consider when a potential PSB incident has been reported. The behavior may be classified as (1) normative (i.e., not out of the ordinary given children’s age and development), (2) cautionary (unsuitable for the child or youth’s age or situation, and (3) problematic (out of bounds in terms of harm or emotional effects upon others).
The National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth has developed these guidelines to help distinguish between three possible descriptions of child and youth sexual behavior: normative, cautionary, and problematic.
Normative |
Voluntary, infrequent, spontaneous |
Cautionary |
Not suitable for the location (e.g., school, faith community) |
Problematic |
Causes harm or potential harm or distress to any child |
These guidelines are not inclusive of all possible behaviors in the three categories. Other behaviors can be considered and added to lists of possible behaviors, circumstances, mitigating factors such as developmental, situational, geographic, and other considerations affecting the child and family.