Poster #41 - Comparing Sexual Grooming Behaviors Among Survivors of Adult and Child Sexual Abuse

• In Event: ASC Poster Session I

Abstract

Sexual grooming is a deceptive process used by perpetrators of sexual abuse to facilitate and maintain contact with a victim. The Sexual Grooming Model (SGM) is a content-validated model with five stages (victim selection, gaining access/isolation, trust development, desensitization, post-abuse maintenance), and 42 sexual grooming behaviors. Research has shown there are similar rates of SGM behaviors in cases of child sexual abuse (CSA) and adult sexual abuse (ASA; M=14.25 versus 14.39 behaviors, respectively); however, there has yet to be a statistical comparison between these forms of abuse. This study compares grooming behaviors among a sample of 674 CSA and 477 ASA survivors using the five stages and total scores of the Sexual Grooming Scale-Victim Version, a self-report SGM measure. Independent samples t-tests results indicate that CSA survivors endorsed grooming behaviors in two stages (gaining access/isolation, post-abuse maintenance) significantly more than ASA survivors, while ASA survivors endorsed more trust development behaviors. CSA perpetrators must isolate/access the child due to adult supervision, then likely maintain that isolation post-abuse to prevent disclosure/detection. ASA seemingly focuses on the emotional manipulation of trust, which may be more necessary in adult abuse. Our results pose implications for the detection, prevention, and prosecution of sexual abuse broadly.

Authors

• Angeline Christina Petras-Gourlay, Fairleigh Dickinson University

• Alex D. S. Keefer, Fairleigh Dickinson University

• Aubrie Davall, Fairleigh Dickinson University

• Georgia M. Winters, Fairleigh Dickinson University