Epstein Secrets

W. ODonobue TABLE 1 General Definitions of Grooming Author(s) Definition of Grooming (taken directly from reference) Sgroi (1982) Salter (1995) Howitt (1995) Labors (1997) Gallagher (1999) Brackenridge (2001) Gillespie (2002) Berson (2003) O'Connell (2003) Spiegel (2003) Craven, Brown, an

e environment and significant others 3.Grooming the child McAlinclen (2006) I. Personal 2. Familial 3. Institutional Wyre (1987)as discussed in Howitt I. Extrafamilial (1995) 2. Intrafamilial definitions share some key similarities, many behaviors may he classified as grooming under some defini

meet, a child with the intention of committing a sexual assault, if he has met or communicated with that child on at least two earlier occasions" (McAlinden, 2006, p. 342). However, as Gillespie (2004) noted, definitional problems with the construct of grooming limit the use of this law, as grooming is

oming behaviors as solely pre-offense actions thereby limiting the scope of sexual grooming tactics employed by offenders (e.g., Brackenridge 2001; Howitt and Sheldon 2007). Therefore, a definition of sexual grooming should note that maintenance behaviors may be enacted after the sexual abuse has occur

and victim. Some of the prior definitions have narrowly defined the type of offender or victim involved in the sexual grooming process. For example, Howitt (1995) used the term "pedophile," which typically refers to individuals who are primarily or exclusively sexually attracted to prepubescent childre

5; Kierkegaard 2008; Lanning 2018; Salter 1995). Research on sexual grooming started to proliferate in the 2000s (Craven, Brown, and Gilchrist 2006; McAlinden 2007), but it was not until 2011 following the arrest of Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach, Jerry Sandusky, for numerous count

er life (Berliner & Conte, 1990; Leberg, 1997). The abuser builds the child's trust (Christiansen & Blake, 1990; Leberg, 1997; Wyre, 1987, cited in Howitt, 1995; van Dam, 2001), makes him or her feel good (Warner, 2000) and then starts to violate boundaries (Christiansen & Blake, 1990; van Dam, 2001).

kinds of definitional features are pro- posed. For example, one definition mentions "betrayal" (Salter, 1995) while another references "courtship" (Howitt, 1995). Some proposed definitions give concrete examples of grooming (Gallagher, 1999; Sgroi, 1982), while others try to give abstract properties t

meet, a child with the intention of committing a sexual assault, if he has met or communicated with that child on at least two earlier occasions" (McAlinden, 2006, p. 342). However, as Gillespie (2004) noted, definitional problems with the construct of grooming limit the use of this law, as grooming is