Grooming

Grooming

Please Be Aware

Parents Can Also Be Groomers!

Child abusers groom and pedophiles use grooming strategies to make sure their child abuse remains a secret.

Grooming is a method used by offenders that involves building trust with a child and the adults around a child in an effort to gain access to and time alone with her/him. In extreme cases, offenders may use threats and physical force to sexually assault or abuse a child. More common, though, are subtle approaches designed to build relationships with families. 

Grooming is a process the sex offender uses to gain the trust of the child victim and reduce natural suspicion. The grooming process breaks down the child's defenses. The offender then manipulates the relationship so that the child will engage in sexual activity and perform specific acts. The relationship is then maintained by secrecy.

Six stages of grooming have been identified. These include:

* Targeting the victim

* Gaining the victim's trust

* Filling a need

* Isolating the child

* Sexualizing the relationship

* Maintaining control

Grooming gives the child a sense of uniqueness or specialness, separating him or her from other family members or from peers. Whether the abuser is family member or stranger, the grooming process is meant to establish trust and affection, increasing attachment and loyalty. 

Then grooming increases the child's acceptance of touch. The offender will begin with nonsexual touch and progress toward sexual touch. Nonsexual touch will desensitize the child and break down inhibitions, leading to more touching.   

When the offender is a family friend or community member, he may also need to groom the parent to gain access to the child. If the offender is a stranger, the grooming process begins when the offender first targets a child. He may visit playgrounds, malls, or parks and select a child based on availability and ease of access. Offenders target vulnerable children - those who are isolated, have problem families, or are unsupervised. 

They use bribes and gifts, including drugs or alcohol to adolescents. Offenders identify with the child and instigate a relationship in which they side with the child and pretend to be the answer to the child's needy area. They attempt to fill the empty places in the child's life. Secrecy is part of the grooming process. The offender may introduce candy to the child, with an accompanying secret, not to tell. Later, the secrets are reinforced with threats. 

Common grooming techniques include:

* Giving bribes, gifts, special privileges

* Excessive compliments

* Being affectionate - hugging, holding hands, rubbing back, kissing in a non-developmentally appropriate way

* Convincing child that sex is a game and is normal

* Convincing child that parents would want child to be compliant

* Pretending to wrestle

* Convincing child that he is learning about sex

* Sharing common interest with child

* Luring child to secluded place

* Threats and intimidation to victim, pet, family member, or friend

Other offender behaviors that may be part of the grooming process:

* Seeking vulnerable children who are needy or emotional

* Gaining parents' trust and then moving to position of power/authority

* Using position of authority (e.g., coach, boy scout leader, teacher's assistant, Sunday school teacher, babysitter)

* Luring victim to a secluded place

* Blackmail

* Offering ride home or to store, movies, etc.

* Offering child safety or protection in order to gain trust

* Use of pornography to set a sexual tone

Please Be Aware

Parents Can Also Be Groomers!