•  
  •  
 

Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners

Abstract

Adult sexual grooming (ASG) is understudied, conceptually ambiguous, and often conflated with child sexual grooming (CSG). Existing models rely heavily on child-centered frameworks, limiting the field’s ability to recognize the adult-specific dynamics of manipulation, coercive control, and institutional vulnerability. This paper examines the limitations of current definitions and argues that ASG requires its own conceptual foundation. Drawing on the literature, the paper highlights three core distinctions between ASG and CSG: the erosion of meaningful consent in adult contexts, the relational ambiguity inherent in roles such as mentor, pastor, supervisor, or professor, and the influence of rigid power structures that legitimize access and impede accountability. The analysis further identifies delayed recognition among adult survivors as a key phenomenon that existing models do not adequately address. Together, these factors demonstrate why child-derived grooming models cannot fully capture the complexities of ASG. Clarifying these adult-specific conceptual requirements provides a necessary foundation for future empirical work, practice development, and policy reform.

Download

Included in

Social Work Commons

Share

COinS

Tell us how this article helped you.