Offense Processes of Online Sexual Grooming and Abuse of Children Via Internet Communication Platforms
Date
2019
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Sexual Abuse
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to provide an inclusive and realistic account of the
offense processes of naturally occurring, sexually exploitative interactions between
offenders and victims that took place via Internet communication platforms, and
develop an offense process diagram of online sexual grooming and abuse. Five case
series, comprising 29 transcripts of 22 interactions, were analyzed using the qualitative
approach of thematic analysis. Police reports were reviewed for descriptive and casespecific information. The five offenders were men aged between 27 and 52 years (M
= 33.6, SD = 5.6), and the number of children they communicated with ranged from
one to 12 (M = 4.6, SD = 4.5). Victims were aged between 11 and 15 (M = 13.0, SD =
1.2), and were both female (n = 17) and male (n = 6). Findings revealed that offenders
employed either an indirect or a direct approach to conversations with victims and
initiating contact with them. The approach offenders employed was also reflected in
the types of strategies they used. Only two offenders were found to engage in aspects
of sexual grooming as part of an indirect approach; the majority of the interactions
by the other three offenders, that lacked features of sexual grooming altogether,
were found to be of a direct approach. These findings are discussed in relation to
current issues surrounding terminology and definition of sexual grooming, as well as
theoretical and practical implications, concluding with suggestions for future research.
Description
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Keywords
online sexual grooming, offense processes, child sexual abuse, internet, case study, International Resources, United Kingdom
Citation
Kloess, J. A., Hamilton-Giachritsis, C. E., & Beech, A. R. (2019). Offense processes of online sexual grooming and abuse of children via internet communication platforms. Sexual Abuse, 31(1), 73-96.