Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study aims to contribute to our knowledge about the under researched area of\nsexual grooming, first of all, by reviewing the available literature to establish a\nbaseline of understanding and secondly by considering three different perspectives,\nwhich expanded our understanding further. In depth interviews, lasting between one\nhour and a total time of approximately four hours, were conducted with five adult\nsurvivors of child sexual abuse, six child sex offenders and six police officers with\nchild protection experience. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to\nanalyse the interview data, which identified four main themes: vulnerability,\noffenders’ self grooming, entrapment and grooming shadow. These themes\nhighlighted an ecological view, which acknowledged the multiple factors influencing\nan individual’s experience of childhood sexual abuse, and recognised the dynamic\nnature of sexual grooming, including its apparent link between childhood experience\nof this phenomenon and adulthood. Attribution and perceived power were the most\nsignificant influences within the sexual grooming process. The analysis was used to\ndevelop a new definition and two models of sexual grooming, which capture the\ncomplexity of this phenomenon. These models provide a framework within which to\nunderstand sexual grooming and furthermore to communicate this understanding to a\nnon-academic audience. The Grooming ‘Cycle’ is of particular value with regard to\nraising public awareness, which is an important aspect as the research has revealed\nthat child protection can only be effective if everybody takes responsibility for it.
Author: Samantha Craven
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W797699754