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.
Any child is at risk of being groomed. And it's important to remember that both boys and girls can be groomed. Children who are groomed online could be abused by someone they know. They could also be abused by someone who commits a one-off act or a stranger who builds a relationship with them.
No child under the age of 13 can ever consent to sexual activity. This means that if a child under 13 is effectively groomed and a sexual act takes place as a result, this is automatically classified as rape and carries a maximum life sentence.
From my understanding grooming can happen when there is some form of a relationship between a young and more impressionable person and a much older person (let's say like 10+ years) where the younger person is molded to the older person's wants in a way that may be inappropriate and even creepy.
One tool common to those who sexually abuse kids is grooming: manipulative behaviors that the abuser uses to gain access to a potential victim, coerce them to agree to the abuse, and reduce the risk of being caught.
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.
Grooming is the process of normalizing inappropriate behavior between minors and adults. If an adult tells you to keep secrets or starts giving you gifts out of nowhere, it may be a red flag. It's also not normal for an adult to want to spend lots of alone time with you or offer you alcohol.
A physical meeting.
Persuading children and young people to meet them face to face in order to abuse them. Grooming is also used by offenders with the aim of other forms of abuse, such as criminal exploitation or trafficking children. In all cases of grooming, it is never the child or young person's fault.
Here's some of the signs of grooming you should look out for: The person becomes withdrawn, or they may seem troubled by something but unwilling to talk about it. Alternatively, their emotions might become more volatile. You notice them using or wearing something new, that you didn't buy for them.
Following a grooming experience, the child may suffer numerous negative effects such as embarrassment, irritability, anxiety, stress, depression, and substance abuse. Even in the absence of physical sexual abuse, the child may be traumatized and suffer long-lasting emotional damage caused by non-contact sexual abuse.
The offence of child grooming carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. There is often significant interest from the local and national media in these investigations, which can place the defendant under immense pressure and stress and do irreparable damage to a person's reputation, relationships and career.
Being groomed affects many young people who often ask 'why is this happening to me? ', so it's important to remember that this is not your fault, and to know that you can get help.
Targeting specific kids for special attention, gifts or activities. Slowly isolating a kid from family members and friends – physically and emotionally. Undermining relationships with parents and friends to show that “no one understands you like I do.” Gradually pushing or crossing physical boundaries.
Grooming, which could include “sexting”, is behaviour that might be viewed as just flirting between colleagues, but may actually mask predatory sexual activity that constitutes a serious risk to employers and young employees.
Grooming disorders are relatively common. A recent survey of 1618 people from the United States found that one out of three people met the clinical diagnosis of at least one grooming disorder [2]. This is greater than the prevalence of depression, anxiety or alcohol abuse [3, 4].
Children are often afraid of disclosing the abuse. They may have been told that they will not be believed, or that something about the child “makes” the abuser do this to them. The child may also feel shame, or fear that they will be blamed.
You may have heard the term as it applies to children, but adults can also groom other adults – even at work. By definition, grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with someone so they can manipulate, exploit and/or abuse them.
Potential signs of grooming for abuse:
Showering the victim with lots of attention. Sharing secrets with the child. Become the sole provider of the victim's needs – giving rides, special outings, friendship, a place to stay, a sympathetic listener. Discuss their personal life and adult 'matters'
While grooming is most associated with child sexual abuse, it is also possible for adults, especially vulnerable adults to be groomed – or prepared – for abuse.