Pedophile and Child Grooming: from Form to Impact

Illustration of sexual violence against children (Antara)

YOGYAKARTA - Pedophilia and child grooming are sexual crime behaviors that make children as victims. Although they have some common aspects, pedophiles and child grooming differ in their modus operandi. This article will discuss information about pedophilia and child grooming behaviors.

Pedophile and Child Grooming are different

Simply put, pedophiles are deviant perpetrators who target children as their sexual fantasies. Meanwhile, child grooming is a deviation that is carried out by building trust with minors so that they can be sexually exploited.

Quoted from Antara, clinical psychologist graduate from the University of Indonesia Kasandra A. Putranto explained that child grooming and pedophilia are two different things. Child grooming is the process of building an emotional relationship with a minor. The goal is to be able to sexually exploit the child.

Meanwhile, pedophilia is a form of ongoing sexual attraction to minors who have not reached puberty. This deviation is one of the driving forces of sexual harassment and sexual violence against children.

To make it easier for you to understand these two terms, see what the difference between pedophiles and child grooming in general.

Behavior shape

The most obvious difference is in its form. If pedophilia behavior is related to the perpetrator's interest in children, then child grooming is related to his or her interest. A person can do grooming even if he or she never calls himself a pedophile. However, grooming is still dangerous because it leads to child exploitation.

The action that shows

The perpetrator of grooming does not launch his actions suddenly, but gradually. Usually the perpetrator will start by inviting the child who is the victim to communicate intensively. In addition, the perpetrator will also do various things that are necessary such as giving compliments, gifts, or any actions so that the child feels special. This action then leads to sexual behavior. The victim is not able to distinguish the boundaries between safe and unsafe.

Meanwhile, pedophilia emphasizes sexual attraction to children. The perpetrator does not focus on an intense approach.

Relationship with crime

Pedophilia does not always lead to crime if it is not manifested in an act. This means that a person who has a tendency to pedophilia may choose to hold back his sexual desire. In contrast, child grooming is already included in dangerous behavior because it leads to child exploitation and it is a criminal act.

Psychological impact

The psychological impact of grooming crimes can emerge before sexual or physical abuse occurs. This means that children can start to be depressed long before the grooming stage is carried out.

That's some of the differences between pedophiles and child grooming. Visit VOI.id for other interesting information.