“Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online
The aim of this paper is to highlight key themes within the process of online grooming from the victim’s perspective. Eight adolescents who experienced online grooming were interviewed and data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. It was found that participants, who had been both sexually abused o...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2014-08-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/3/404 |
| _version_ | 1819261349502386176 |
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| author | Helen C. Whittle Catherine E. Hamilton-Giachritsis Anthony R. Beech |
| author_facet | Helen C. Whittle Catherine E. Hamilton-Giachritsis Anthony R. Beech |
| author_sort | Helen C. Whittle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this paper is to highlight key themes within the process of online grooming from the victim’s perspective. Eight adolescents who experienced online grooming were interviewed and data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. It was found that participants, who had been both sexually abused online and/or offline, were subjected to a range of grooming experiences. Consistent grooming themes within this sample included: manipulation; deception; regular/intense contact; secrecy; sexualisation; kindness and flattery; erratic temperament and nastiness; and simultaneous grooming of those close to the victim. These themes are similar to those identified by the literature surrounding grooming offline. Analysis demonstrated that once a participant was ‘enmeshed’ in the relationship with the offender, they were more likely to endure negative feelings associated with the grooming, than if the victim was not ‘enmeshed’. This paper supports the notion that grooming is a varied and non-linear process. Recommendations are made for practitioners, parents and carers, as well as suggestions for primary preventative education. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:40:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8ff87ca92854e0d83abbfbe96f2eac5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:40:23Z |
| publishDate | 2014-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8ff87ca92854e0d83abbfbe96f2eac52022-12-21T17:33:41ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602014-08-013340442610.3390/socsci3030404socsci3030404“Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed OnlineHelen C. Whittle0Catherine E. Hamilton-Giachritsis1Anthony R. Beech2Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, London SW1V 2WG, UKSchool of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKSchool of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKThe aim of this paper is to highlight key themes within the process of online grooming from the victim’s perspective. Eight adolescents who experienced online grooming were interviewed and data were analysed using Thematic Analysis. It was found that participants, who had been both sexually abused online and/or offline, were subjected to a range of grooming experiences. Consistent grooming themes within this sample included: manipulation; deception; regular/intense contact; secrecy; sexualisation; kindness and flattery; erratic temperament and nastiness; and simultaneous grooming of those close to the victim. These themes are similar to those identified by the literature surrounding grooming offline. Analysis demonstrated that once a participant was ‘enmeshed’ in the relationship with the offender, they were more likely to endure negative feelings associated with the grooming, than if the victim was not ‘enmeshed’. This paper supports the notion that grooming is a varied and non-linear process. Recommendations are made for practitioners, parents and carers, as well as suggestions for primary preventative education.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/3/404online groomingvictimschild sexual abuseadolescents |
| spellingShingle | Helen C. Whittle Catherine E. Hamilton-Giachritsis Anthony R. Beech “Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online Social Sciences online grooming victims child sexual abuse adolescents |
| title | “Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online |
| title_full | “Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online |
| title_fullStr | “Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online |
| title_short | “Under His Spell”: Victims’ Perspectives of Being Groomed Online |
| title_sort | under his spell victims perspectives of being groomed online |
| topic | online grooming victims child sexual abuse adolescents |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/3/3/404 |
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