Epstein Secrets

f this definition will follow consideration of previous literature and current understanding about sexual grooming. Prevalence Canter, Hughes and Kirby (1998) provide evidence for the prevalence of the sexual grooming phenomenon. They used Small Space Analysis on a behaviour matrix of the interactio

rackenridge, 2001; Craven, Brown, & Gilchrist, 2006; Gallagher, 1999), gaining a child's trust (Berson, 2003; Craven et al., 2006; Gillespie, 2002; Salter, 1995), making it more difficult to the child to resist or disclose the abuse (Berson, 2003; Craven et al., 2006; Gallagher, 1999; Gillespie, 2002;

. Bennet: and W. ODonolnie TABLE 1 General Definitions of Grooming Author(s) Definition of Grooming (taken directly from reference) Sgroi (1982) Salter (1995) 11OVAIE (1995) Lebeig (1997) Gallagher (1999) Brackenridge (2001) Gillespie (2002) Berson (2003) O'Connell (2003) Spiegel (2003) Cr

found that nearly half of the offenders who commit sexual acts against children utilize what are known as "grooming" behaviors (Canter, Hughes, and Kirby 1998). Grooming refers to the behaviors that an offender employs in preparation for committing sexual abuse against a child (McAlinden 2006). While

0). This step is often regarded as the central role of the grooming process, wherein the offender establishes trust and cooperation with the victim (Salter 1995; van Dam 2001). The offender accomplishes this by befriending the child, by learning about his/her interests, being helpful, showering the chi

ies that have examined the use of sexual grooming tactics found these were used by approximately 30-45% of child sexual abusers (Canter, Hughes, and Kirby 1998; Groth and Birnbaum, 1978). The goals of sexual grooming are to gain initial cooperation by the victim, decrease the likelihood of discovery,

al grooming in past literature (See Table 1), none of which have ultimately been widely accepted. Table 1. Definitions of Sexual Grooming. Source Salter (19951 Definitions of Sexual Grooming Howitt (1995) Leberg (1997) Gallagher (1999) McAlinden (20071 Brackenridge (20011 Gillespie (2002) Spie