Detecting child sexual abuse in perpetrators: The effects of perpetrator age and of training on observers

Abstract

The early detection of sexually abusive relationships between adults and children is important. However, media propagation of child sex offender stereotypes may inhibit offender detection. This study used a vignette‐based online questionnaire to explore to what extent the signs of abuse can be detected in a relationship between a child and his football coach and whether the ‘dirty old man’ age stereotype impacts detection. Whether adults already trained in detecting child sexual abuse (CSA) rated the potential for CSA differently than untrained adults in scenarios where it was included was also explored. The analysis indicated a significantly higher rating for CSA in ‘abuse’ scenarios than ‘no‐abuse’ scenarios across all participants, with a large effect size. However, there was no significant difference in rating for CSA based on abuser age. Additionally, CSA‐trained participants did not rate abuse scenarios significantly differently than untrained participants. Extensive reporting of high‐profile cases that did not include a stereotypical offender was considered a potential mitigating factor for the age stereotype. The focus of existing CSA training on signs in victims, rather than signs of abusive relationships, is considered a potential explanation for the comparable ratings for CSA between trained and untrained participants.