Some children are more at risk of grooming, particularly those who are vulnerable. Children in care, with disabilities or who are neglected can be targeted by groomers. Groomers will exploit any vulnerability to increase the likelihood a child or young person will become dependent on them and less likely to speak out.
Girls are more likely to be targeted by groomers, with data from police forces in England and Wales showing girls were the victim in 83% of grooming cases where the gender was known between April 2017 and March 2021.
Any child or teen may be a potential victim. Some predators may be attracted to children and youth with certain characteristics or may target youth with certain co-existing factors—such as vulnerable parents—to facilitate the crime.
Sexual grooming of children also occurs on the Internet. Some abusers (sometimes posing as children themselves) chat with children online and make arrangements to meet with them in person. Online grooming of minors is most prevalent in relation to the 13–17 age group (99% of cases), and particularly 13–14 (48%).
Many adults in toxic or abusive relationships will experience grooming as their partner's attempt to build a false sense of extreme emotional connection, create a sense of dependence, and overall more vulnerable to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
Grooming is manipulative behaviour 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. While these tactics are used most often against younger children, teens and vulnerable adults are also at risk.
Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. Children and young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited or trafficked. Anybody can be a groomer, no matter their age, gender or race.
Grooming can happen when there is a power differential within a relationship, which the abuser exploits for their own gratification. This is most commonly recognised as a tactic used by perpetrators of child sexual abuse, both on children and parents. However, adults can also be groomed.
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.
Abusers Often Come on Strong
Intense romance can be a form of grooming, a predatory tactic that is meant to build a deep emotional connection. Abusers know exactly what they are doing.
Children are perhaps most likely to develop a trauma bond when exposed to sexual exploitation and targeted grooming. Sometimes, they may never have experienced physical intimacy, and grooming tactics can lead them to believe that their abuser has genuine feelings for them, and that their behaviour is normal.
What Is the Meaning of Child Grooming? Adults who build stable and trusting relationships with a child under 18 for the purpose of sexually assaulting the minor are considered groomers. As such, you could face state and federal charges for child grooming if the alleged victim is under 15.
In study after study, findings have indicated that women more often than men are portrayed in a sexual manner (e.g., dressed in revealing clothing, with bodily postures or facial expressions that imply sexual readiness) and are objectified (e.g., used as a decorative object, or as body parts rather than a whole person) ...
Attractive: "Grooming allows for a sense of pride and therefore emulates confidence which in turn is an attractive quality. An absence of grooming would imply a lack of basic hygiene and care of presentation."
Grooming often begins with nonsexual touching in order to desensitize the child so that they do not resist a more sexual touch. Over time, the adult exploits the child's curiosity and trust and begins to progressively add sexual components to the relationship.
Groomers do not always self identify as groomers, and are often deluding themselves as well as their targets. The classic stages of grooming can roughly be summarised as: Groomers target/profile the victim(s)
Recent research shows nearly 20% of children will be sexually solicited by an adult online. Perpetrators use unique grooming behaviors online, such as examining their social media profiles and requesting pictures.
There's no law against it. You might run into some funny looks if the 30-year-old is in a position of trust relating to the 17-year-old, but it's not a problem in that regard.
What does it feel like to be groomed? If someone is being groomed, it won't feel scary and wrong, it will feel exciting and special. Grooming is a process of building trust so that a person will often feel loved and understood.
Potential signs of grooming for abuse:
Giving gifts to flatter the victim. 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.