TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Towards a common framework for assessing the activity and associations of groups who sexually abuse children
JO  - Journal of sexual aggression
A1  - Cockbain, Ella
A1  - Brayley, Helen
A1  - Sullivan, Joe
SP  - 156
EP  - 171
VL  - 20
IS  - 2
N2  - Extensive social psychological research emphasises the importance of groups in shaping individuals' thoughts and actions. Within the child sexual abuse (CSA) literature criminal organisation has been largely overlooked, with some key exceptions. This research was a novel collaboration between academia and the UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Starting from the premise that the group is, in itself, a form of social situation affecting abuse, it offers the first systematic situational analysis of CSA groups. In-depth behavioural data from a small sample of convicted CSA group-offenders (n =3) were analysed qualitatively to identify factors and processes underpinning CSA groups' activities and associations: group formation, evolution, identity and resources. The results emphasise CSA groups' variability, fluidity and dynamism. The foundations of a general framework are proposed for researching and assessing CSA groups and designing effective interventions. It is hoped that this work will stimulate discussion and development in this long-neglected area of CSA, helping to build a coherent knowledge-base.<p />
LA  - en
SN  - 1355-2600
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13552600.2013.791730
ID  - ref1
ER  -