A descriptive analysis was done on 73 consecutive cases of childhood sexual abuse seen in 1978. There were conspicuous similarities among the cases. Sexually abused children tended to come from households with evidence of family stress. The events occurred in safe havens such as the childrens' own homes, by individuals known and trusted by the children. An intrafamilial stress-dysfunction model, rather than a victim-assailant model, is more applicable to childhood sexual abuse.