Journal of all d Sexual Abuse, 23:957-976, 2014

Journal of all d Sexual Abuse, 23:957-976, 2014 Copyright O Taylor & Francis Group, DA: ISSN: 1053-8712 print/1547-0679 online DOI: 10.1080110538712.2014.960632 Routledge The Construct of Grooming in Child Sexual Abuse: Conceptual and Measurement Issues NATALIE BENNETT and WILLIAM O'DONOHUE unktersay of Nevada, Reno, Reno, ,Veividn, 1114 There have been claims that some child molesters engage in a "seduction stage" prior to committing abuse. These behaviors, com- monly known as 'grooming," are understood as methods child molesters use to gain access to andprep arefiaure victims to be com- pliant with abuse. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding exactly what this process entails and how it is clearly distinguished from normal adult-child interactions. It is important to devise an accurate definition of grooming for scientific, clinical, and forensic purposes. We critically evaluate the various definitions and reveal problematic heterogeneity. Furthermore, there