Perceptions of Child Sexual Abuse in a Hypothetical Cybersexploitation Case: The Importance of Perpetrator Honesty, Outcome Type, and Respondent Gender

Abstract

This study investigated perceptions of child sexual abuse in a hypothetical cybersexploitation case. Men were predicted to be more negative toward the victim than were women. Victims were predicted to be more negatively judged when they consented to sex than when they did not and when they were lied to than when they were not. Two hundred and seventy-six respondents read a sexual abuse depiction in which the perpetrator's disclosure about his age (being honest from the outset, lying, or refusing to disclose when questioned) and the final outcome of the meeting (consensual verses nonconsensual sexual intercourse) were varied between subjects. Respondents then completed a 17-item attribution scale. ANOVAs revealed broad support for the predictions. Results have implications for education about cybercrime.

KEYWORDS:

• child sexual abuse
• cybersexploitation
• Internet grooming
• rape

Notes

1. This was an opportunity sample with the majority of participants being female students. While the majority of those approached agreed to participate, a small number declined due to time commitments.

2. Because of low cell numbers, the ethnicity data were recoded into White, Asian, Afro-Caribbean, or Chinese classifications. Similarly, relationship status data was recoded into single, dating, or cohabiting/married categories.

3. Where items loaded onto more than one factor, priority is given to the highest loading.

4. Note that higher scores on victim culpability reflect a more provictim stance.

5. CI graphs are not included in the present paper. Further details are available from the second author.