Psychological Profile of Perpetrators and Psychological Impact on Victims of Child Grooming: A Systematic Literature Review

Emilia Afniyati Timung

doi:10.59141/jiss.v7i7.2413

Authors

Emilia Afniyati Timung Universitas Bali Internasional

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59141/jiss.v7i7.2413

Keywords:

child grooming, perpetrator psychological profile, victim psychological impact, child sexual abuse, systematic literature review

Abstract

Child grooming is an increasingly concerning form of child sexual violence involving gradual emotional manipulation to establish trust, dependency, and control before sexual exploitation occurs. The development of digital technology has expanded opportunities for perpetrators to approach children through online platforms, making detection and prevention more challenging. This study aims to identify the psychological profile and modus operandi of child grooming perpetrators, examine the psychological impacts experienced by victims, and formulate implications for prevention and intervention strategies. This research employed a qualitative descriptive approach using a systematic literature review method. Data were obtained from five peer-reviewed scientific articles discussing child grooming and child sexual violence from psychological, legal, sociocultural, and intervention perspectives. The findings reveal that perpetrators generally apply sequential manipulation stages, including victim selection, gaining access and isolation, trust development, sexual desensitization, and post-exploitation control. Meanwhile, victims experience significant psychological consequences, including betrayal, traumatic sexualization, powerlessness, stigmatization, anxiety, depression, dissociation, sleep disorders, and post-traumatic symptoms. The study concludes that child grooming is a complex psychological and social phenomenon requiring multidimensional prevention through legal strengthening, trauma-based psychological interventions, comprehensive sexuality education, and collaboration among families, schools, communities, and law enforcement institutions.

References

Arabi, S. (2025). Breaking Trauma Bonds with Narcissists and Psychopaths: Stop the Cycle of Manipulation, Exploitation, and Abuse in Your Romantic Relationships. New Harbinger Publications.

Basit, A., Bahrudin, R., & Arahman, M. N. (2025). Perlindungan anak dari grooming seksual dalam perspektif hukum Islam dan hukum positif: Kajian yuridis-normatif komparatif. Al Mikraj: Jurnal Studi Islam dan Humaniora, 6(1), 1112–1123. https://doi.org/10.37680/almikraj.v6i1.8478

Carolina, N., Saputra, W. A., Nafi’ah, H. H., Merkuri, Y. G., & Bakti, C. P. (2022). Strategi intervensi untuk menekan kasus kekerasan seksual: Isu dan tren. Jurnal Mahasiswa BK An-Nur: Berbeda, Bermakna, Mulia, 8(2), 60–65.

Davies, A. (2026). Developing a framework for measuring success and impact of multi-agency working on child criminal exploitation cases. University of Gloucestershire.

Forrester Fellowes, A., Kloess, J. A., & Gladden, S. (2026). The psychological impact on and mental health outcomes for victim-survivors of technology-assisted child sexual abuse: a systematic literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1682155.

Gea, I. Z., Mardhiyah, L., & Jasri, R. H. (2025). Faktor sosial-budaya, dampak, dan upaya pencegahan kekerasan seksual terhadap anak di Indonesia. Jurnal Abdimas Indonesia, 5(4), 2386–2390.

Gjika, A. (2023). When rape goes viral: Youth and sexual assault in the digital age. Univ of California Press.

Mooney, V. (2024). An Exploration of Contact Child Sexual Exploitation Victim-Perpetrator Interpersonal Dynamics: Providing Indicators of Exploitative Language for Law Enforcement and Safeguarding Agencies. University of Central Lancashire.

Mulawarman, J. M., & Max, J. I. S. D. (2026). The effects of child grooming in Priscilla (2023): Psychological approach. Ilmu Budaya: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Budaya, 10(2), 171–188.

Reneses, M., Riberas-Gutiérrez, M., & Bueno-Guerra, N. (2024). “He flattered me”. A comprehensive look into online grooming risk factors: Merging voices of victims, offenders and experts through in-depth interviews. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 18(4).

Rodriguez Rodriguez, M., & Gomez-Baya, D. (2025). Scoping Review of the Psychological Effects of Gender-Based Violence on Children. Children, 12(9), 1277.

Salwa, V., Nuraini, F., & Rochmaniya, H. (2025). Kekerasan terhadap perempuan: Tantangan dan solusi psikologis. Jurnal Sosial Humaniora (JSH), 2(1), 58–80. https://doi.org/10.70214/4z4j0c29

Serban, I. V. (2023). Psychological violence and intra-family moral abuse: dynamic profiles of deviance. An Italian retrospective. Soc. & Soc. Work Rev., 7, 121.

Sperlich, M., Logan-Greene, P., & Finucane, A. (2021). Adopting a trauma-informed approach to gender-based violence across the life course. In Understanding gender-based violence: An essential textbook for nurses, healthcare professionals and social workers (pp. 185–202). Springer.

Utari, I. S., Arifin, R., & Ramada, D. P. (2024). Exploring Child Grooming Sexual Abuse through Differential Association Theory: A Criminological and Legal Examination with Constitutional Implications. Volksgeist: Jurnal Ilmu Hukurn Dan Konstitusi, 7(1).

Winters, G. M., & Jeglic, E. L. (2022). Sexual grooming: Integrating research, practice, prevention, and policy. Springer Nature.

Yulianti, A., & Srianti, C. D. (2025). The Effectiveness of the Child Protection Law in Preventing and Handling Child Violence in the Digital Era. Al Mabhats: Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Agama, 10(1), 1–16.