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Mimicry Deception Theory Applied To Grooming Behaviors Of Child Sexual Abuse, Melissa De Roos De Roos

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Mimicry Deception Theory (MDT) is a theoretical framework used to analyze deception in terms of long- vs. short-term strategies employed by the deceiver. Grooming behaviors used by sex offenders to access child victims and to prolong the abuse while minimizing detection are a specific form of deception. We conducted two studies, coding 121 and 164 court reports of sex abuse appeal cases with child victims. Grooming that was more complex in nature was associated with abuse that lasted longer and was more difficult to detect. Further, victim vulnerabilities contributed to a sense of confusion in the victim, and a decreased …