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Sexual grooming is the process by which someone builds trust with a person, often a minor, with the intent of manipulating, exploiting, or abusing them sexually. Grooming can happen in person or online and typically involves gradual steps to gain the target's trust, as well as the trust of their family or social circle, to lower their defenses.
Key Steps in Sexual Grooming:
1. Targeting the Victim: The perpetrator identifies a vulnerable individual, such as someone isolated, emotionally distressed, or naïve.
2. Gaining Trust: They build a relationship through attention, kindness, or gifts, often making the victim feel special or dependent on them.
3. Isolating the Victim: The abuser may try to separate the victim from friends or family, creating a secretive or exclusive bond.
4. Desensitization: They introduce inappropriate behavior gradually, such as through inappropriate jokes, conversations, or physical contact, to normalize their behavior.
5. Exploitation: Once trust is fully established, the abuser manipulates the victim into engaging in sexual activity or other forms of exploitation.
Warning Signs:
Unexplained gifts or money.
Excessive secrecy in communication (e.g., secretive phone calls, messages).
Sudden withdrawal from family or friends.
A relationship that seems too close for comfort with an older individual.