A discursive analysis of compliance, resistance and escalation to threats in sexually exploitative interactions between offenders and male children
Date
2021
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Publisher
British Journal of Social Psychology
Abstract
There is a notable scarcity of empirical studies focusing on online sexual grooming using
real world, naturally occurring data. Limited research with real victims (as opposed to
decoys) has indicated that more overt forceful threats are employed by offenders in such
interaction; however, they tell us little about how these threats are built up and managed
by both parties. Furthermore, the majority of research focuses on female victims, with
limited attention paid to male victims. The current study presents a discursive psychology
analysis of chat logs between one offender (posing as a teenage girl) and five male victims
under the age of 16 years, in order to explore how victims attempt to resist such
manoeuvres in situ, and how offenders manage such resistance. The sexualized nature
evidenced in our data contrasts with other findings which suggest that boys are not
sexually solicited and that interactions with boys are less aggressive and forceful. Our
findings demonstrate for the first time how an offender escalated his issuing of threats
following victims’ resistance and non-compliance to requests. Turning points that
appeared odd in the online interactions suggest that they may be used to encourage
children to be more reflective about any further engagement.
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Keywords
International Resources, United Kingdom, male victims, online sexual grooming, offenders, internet crimes, research
Citation
Seymour‐Smith, S., & Kloess, J. A. (2021). A discursive analysis of compliance, resistance and escalation to threats in sexually exploitative interactions between offenders and male children. British Journal of Social Psychology.