“Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online

dc.contributor.authorWhittle, H. C., Hamilton-Giachritsis, C. E., & Beech, A. R.
dc.date.accessioned2014-12-29T16:43:45Z
dc.date.available2014-12-29T16:43:45Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractThe aim of this paper is to highlight key themes within the process of online grooming from the victim’s perspective. Eight adolescents who experienced online grooming were interviewed and data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. It was found that participants, who had been both sexually abused online and/or offline, were subjected to a range of grooming experiences. Consistent grooming themes within this sample included: manipulation; deception; regular/intense contact; secrecy; sexualisation; kindness and flattery; erratic temperament and nastiness; and simultaneous grooming of those close to the victim. These themes are similar to those identified by the literature surrounding grooming offline. Analysis demonstrated that once a participant was ‘enmeshed’ in the relationship with the offender, they were more likely to endure negative feelings associated with the grooming, than if the victim was not ‘enmeshed’. This paper supports the notion that grooming is a varied and non-linear process. Recommendations are made for practitioners, parents and carers, as well as suggestions for primary preventative education.en_US
dc.identifier.citationWhittle, H. C., Hamilton-Giachritsis, C. E., & Beech, A. R. (2014). “Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online. Social Sciences, 3(3), 404-426.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/3/404
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/2024
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherSocial Sciencesen_US
dc.subjectonline groomingen_US
dc.subjectchild sexual abuseen_US
dc.subjectinterneten_US
dc.subjectadolescentsen_US
dc.subjectvictimsen_US
dc.title“Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Onlineen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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