International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation■ Vol. 2, 2021 43
Winters et al., 2017). 8 The literature on
grooming children appears expansive,
however, when compared to that which
focuses on the grooming of adults for sexual
abuse. Sinnamon’s (2017) research remedies
this absence by focusing specifically on adult
grooming. Moreover, websites offering
support and services for victims/survivors9 of
adult grooming are of additional value, and I
supplement Sinnamon’s work with some of
their observations.
Sinnamon (2017) defines adult sexual
grooming as “any situation in which an adult
is primed to permit themselves to be abused
and/or exploited for sexual gratification of
another.” Furthermore, he notes that, like the
grooming of children, the grooming of adults
involves “emotional and psychological
manipulation tactics” (Sinnamon, 2017,
p. 462). Compared to children, adults have a
greater capacity for drawing on prior life
experiences and situations. As well, they
have better access to supportive institutions
and significant others. Consequently, the
abuser must carefully groom the adult and her
environment. This process may be extensive
and often unfolds over a series of stages
during which the abusers will “mask their
intentions” and “prime their target for abuse”
(Sinnamon, 2017, p. 463). Because groomers
typically establish themselves as decent,
caring, and trustworthy individuals, they are
able to situate themselves in the lives and
communities of others. Their apparent
compassion and sincerity results in the
8 Scholars define child grooming in various ways. Although
consensus exists around several significant characteristics within the
process, some definitions offer additional nuances and perspectives.
Predator behaviors that appeal to children—including tickling,
playing, gift giving, special trips, and access to “grown-up”
activities and products—are particular to child grooming. Abusers
may groom children for extensive periods before attempting
sexualized physical contact (see. for example, Craven et al., 2006
Lanning, 2018 McAlinden, 2012 Ost, 2004 Salter, 2013 van
Dam, 2001 and Winters et al., 2017).
9 According to the Rape, Abuse &Incest National Network
(RAINN, 2019), both victim and survivor are appropriate terms. The
people around them “dropping their guard,”
allowing for an escalation of “intimate
contact” (Sinnamon, 2017, p. 463). Abusers
often occupy positions of importance in their
victims’ lives, and they use this familiarity
and trust to intentionally use “charm,
ingratiation and manipulation” to further
their goals (Sinnamon, 2017, p. 463).10
In the case of adult grooming, perpetrators
“are characteristically motivated by a desire
to maintain or restore their self-esteem
through the manipulation and control of
others, and by the prospect of excitement and
the opportunity to deviously exhibit their
dominance and superiority” (Petherick &
Sinnamon, 2013, as cited in Sinnamon, 2017,
p. 464). As such, Sinnamon posits that most
adult groomers display characteristics typical
of narcissistic or antisocial personality types
(Sinnamon, 2017, p. 464).
Furthermore, at the core of the grooming
process is the perpetrator’s aspiration to
exercise complete power over his victim(s).
The ability to exert power at both individual
and environmental levels is contingent upon
the abuser’s personal qualities (Sinnamon,
2017, p. 465). Hence, “notoriety, charisma,
social status, personal standing and the
perpetrator’s willingness and ability to
translate the potential power they have from
these factors into action” influence the extent
to which he succeeds (Sinnamon, 2017, p.
465).
organization, however, typically uses victim in reference to someone
recently subjected to sexual violence or when referring to a specific
crime. Conversely, survivor often is used when discussing an
individual post recovery. Critically, RAINN identifies that
individuals have their own language preferences (RAINN, 2019). In
this article, I use victim for consistency and because of the recency
of the court case.
10 As with child grooming and abuse, when a perpetrator of adult
grooming and abuse is revealed, often individuals and communities
exhibit skepticism, certain that the person could not have committed
these acts (see Minto, Hornsey, Gillespie, Healy, &Jetten, [2016]
see also Craven et al. [2006], and Sinnamon, 2017, p. 464).
Winters et al., 2017). 8 The literature on
grooming children appears expansive,
however, when compared to that which
focuses on the grooming of adults for sexual
abuse. Sinnamon’s (2017) research remedies
this absence by focusing specifically on adult
grooming. Moreover, websites offering
support and services for victims/survivors9 of
adult grooming are of additional value, and I
supplement Sinnamon’s work with some of
their observations.
Sinnamon (2017) defines adult sexual
grooming as “any situation in which an adult
is primed to permit themselves to be abused
and/or exploited for sexual gratification of
another.” Furthermore, he notes that, like the
grooming of children, the grooming of adults
involves “emotional and psychological
manipulation tactics” (Sinnamon, 2017,
p. 462). Compared to children, adults have a
greater capacity for drawing on prior life
experiences and situations. As well, they
have better access to supportive institutions
and significant others. Consequently, the
abuser must carefully groom the adult and her
environment. This process may be extensive
and often unfolds over a series of stages
during which the abusers will “mask their
intentions” and “prime their target for abuse”
(Sinnamon, 2017, p. 463). Because groomers
typically establish themselves as decent,
caring, and trustworthy individuals, they are
able to situate themselves in the lives and
communities of others. Their apparent
compassion and sincerity results in the
8 Scholars define child grooming in various ways. Although
consensus exists around several significant characteristics within the
process, some definitions offer additional nuances and perspectives.
Predator behaviors that appeal to children—including tickling,
playing, gift giving, special trips, and access to “grown-up”
activities and products—are particular to child grooming. Abusers
may groom children for extensive periods before attempting
sexualized physical contact (see. for example, Craven et al., 2006
Lanning, 2018 McAlinden, 2012 Ost, 2004 Salter, 2013 van
Dam, 2001 and Winters et al., 2017).
9 According to the Rape, Abuse &Incest National Network
(RAINN, 2019), both victim and survivor are appropriate terms. The
people around them “dropping their guard,”
allowing for an escalation of “intimate
contact” (Sinnamon, 2017, p. 463). Abusers
often occupy positions of importance in their
victims’ lives, and they use this familiarity
and trust to intentionally use “charm,
ingratiation and manipulation” to further
their goals (Sinnamon, 2017, p. 463).10
In the case of adult grooming, perpetrators
“are characteristically motivated by a desire
to maintain or restore their self-esteem
through the manipulation and control of
others, and by the prospect of excitement and
the opportunity to deviously exhibit their
dominance and superiority” (Petherick &
Sinnamon, 2013, as cited in Sinnamon, 2017,
p. 464). As such, Sinnamon posits that most
adult groomers display characteristics typical
of narcissistic or antisocial personality types
(Sinnamon, 2017, p. 464).
Furthermore, at the core of the grooming
process is the perpetrator’s aspiration to
exercise complete power over his victim(s).
The ability to exert power at both individual
and environmental levels is contingent upon
the abuser’s personal qualities (Sinnamon,
2017, p. 465). Hence, “notoriety, charisma,
social status, personal standing and the
perpetrator’s willingness and ability to
translate the potential power they have from
these factors into action” influence the extent
to which he succeeds (Sinnamon, 2017, p.
465).
organization, however, typically uses victim in reference to someone
recently subjected to sexual violence or when referring to a specific
crime. Conversely, survivor often is used when discussing an
individual post recovery. Critically, RAINN identifies that
individuals have their own language preferences (RAINN, 2019). In
this article, I use victim for consistency and because of the recency
of the court case.
10 As with child grooming and abuse, when a perpetrator of adult
grooming and abuse is revealed, often individuals and communities
exhibit skepticism, certain that the person could not have committed
these acts (see Minto, Hornsey, Gillespie, Healy, &Jetten, [2016]
see also Craven et al. [2006], and Sinnamon, 2017, p. 464).
