Victimization of Minors in the Process of Cybergrooming: Gender and Psychosexual Specificity

Abstract

Addressing the problem of sexual harassment of children and adolescents in online communication (cybergrooming) requires in-depth study. Gender and psychosexual aspects of victimization of victims are of particular importance for preventive work. The article presents the results of content analysis of dialogues between 35 cybergroomers and 94 minors, realized on the Internet. The gender and age structure of the victims is 54 girls and 40 boys from 9 to 16 years old. It was found that depending on the gender and sexual identity of the child, as well as their own criminal goals, the groomers use different tactics of manipulative influence. Boys are significantly more likely to exhibit sexual motive when interacting with abusers, as well as greater victimization (p=0.000). Girls are predominantly oriented towards neutral and friendly interactions and do not allow it to go beyond these limits (p=0.000). It is concluded that prevention of victimization of minors involved in cybergrooming should include the development of skills to assert personal boundaries and critical attitude towards online interlocutors.