Validation of the Sexual Grooming Model of Child Sexual Abusers.

Sexual grooming has been deemed an integral part of the child sexual abuse process. However, there has yet to be a universally accepted model for this process and, as a consequence, there is no clear understanding of which behaviors constitute sexual grooming. One proposed model of in-person sexual grooming outlined five stages of the process: 1) victim selection, 2) gaining access and isolating a child, 3) trust development, 4) desensitization to sexual content and physical contact, and 5) maintenance following the abuse. The present study sought to validate this Sexual Grooming Model (SGM) and identify behaviors that may be employed during each stage of the process. First, a thorough review of the literature was conducted to generate a comprehensive list of sexual grooming behaviors (n = 77). Second, 18 experts in the field completed a survey which asked them to rate the extent to which each of the five stages and potential grooming behaviors were relevant to the sexual grooming process. Results provided support for the SGM and produced 42 behaviors that were considered to be grooming tactics within these stages. From this, the first validated, comprehensive model of in-person sexual grooming is proposed. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications and future directions in the field.

The Absence of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) in the Treatment of Sexual Abusers: Recommendations for Moving Toward the Use of a True EBP Model.

Despite a continued evolution of the field of sexual abuser treatment toward a distinct professional discipline with clinicians using an increasing variety of treatment approaches, there is no consensus regarding the strength of our various clinical interventions as evidence-based practices (EBPs). This article provides a brief history of the development and goals of EBPs in medicine and mental health, and a review of the earnest efforts of researchers within the field to establish treatment approaches with sexual abusers as evidence-based. An appraisal of the current status of EBP's with sexual abusers is provided. Although there have been improvements in the methodological quality of treatment outcome research with sexual abusers, divergent opinions about treatment effectiveness remain, and the field has not yet agreed on a system or set of criteria for what constitutes "evidence." We contend that clinical practice has been influenced as much, or more, by new paradigms that are intuitively meaningful and perceived as needed than it has by what has been determined to be scientifically efficacious. This trend and other processes in our field that seem to be slowing the development of EBPs with sexual abusers are discussed. Recommendations for conducting evidence-based reviews and moving the field of sexual abuser treatment toward the use of a true EBP model are provided.

Una aproximación a las características de los abusadores sexuales y los factores asociados al abuso / An approach to the characteristics of sexual abusers and the factors associated with the abuse

Una amplia discusión existe en torno a los abusadores sexuales, especialmente en relación a lograr establecer un perfil que permita reconocerlos fácilmente para de esa manera actuar en la prevención del abuso sexual. El objetivo de la presente revisión es dar una visión general de las características de los abusadores sexuales y revisar brevemente las diferentes teorías que se han desarrollado en torno al abuso sexual, modelos teóricos que podrían explicar el abuso sexual infantil.

There is a wide discussion with relation to sexual abusers, especially in relation to be able to establish a profile, which permits to recognize them easily and in this way to act in the prevention of sexual abuse. The aim of this review is to give a general view of the characteristics of sexual abusers and to review briefly the different theories that have been developed about sexual abuse, theoretical models that could explain the sexual abuse in children.