A comparison of online and offline grooming characteristics: An application of the victim roles model

Maria Ioannou, John Synnott, Amy Reynolds, John Pearson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Although online and offline grooming has been researched, a direct comparison of grooming characteristics as an exploration of the interpersonal transaction between victim and offender has not been examined. This study compares the grooming characteristics of 103 victims who were targeted online (n=76) and offline (n=25). A multidimensional scaling procedure (smallest space analysis (SSA-1)) was used to explore grooming characteristics derived from a content analysis of offence transcripts found online. Canter’s (1994) victim role model was successfully applied to both groups and the findings revealed a differentiation between victim as vehicle, person and object, as it has previously identified for other sexual and violent interpersonal offences (Canter & Youngs 2012). There were some differences between online and offline groupings of characteristics when applied to victim roles, but the majority of the characteristics were consistent across the two groups. The implications of the work are discussed, as are potential areas for future research.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)291-297
Number of pages7
JournalComputers in Human Behavior
Volume85
Early online date6 Apr 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2018

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