Molestation of Children

Every child is vulnerable to sexual exploitation. Child victims can be boys as well as girls and older as well as younger.

 

 

Child molestation can include

• Fondling or touching
• "Flashing" or exposing adult genitals to a child
• Showing sexually explicit material to a child
• So called "normal" sexual activity such as vaginal or anal intercourse or oral stimulation of the genitals
• So called "deviant" sexual activity such as urination, defecation, sadomasochism, or bondage

Child molesters can use many methods such as

Coaxing or persuading a child into sexual activity

Overpowering or threatening to harm a child into sexual activity

Child molesters most often manipulate child victims into complying with sexual activity by "grooming" them with attention, affection, and gifts over a period of time. Sometimes this "grooming" is aimed at the parent of very young children in order for the child molester to obtain the family's trust and thereby gain access to the child.

Adapted from Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis. Copyright © 2001 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.

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