A typology of offenders who use online communications to commit sex crimes against minors
Abstract
This study aims to present a qualitative, empirically based typology of offenders who use online communications to commit sex crimes against minors, including offenders who met victims online and those who knew them in advance. Seventy-five reports made by law enforcement officers were analyzed using a qualitative software program, during which a typology defining 4 types of offenders was identified: the expert, the cynical, the affection-focused, and the sex-focused. Each type of offender was characterized by patterns of online communication, offline and online identity, relationship dynamics with the victim, and level of sex crime expertise. The typology reveals the heterogeneous nature of sex offenders who use online communications. This diversity must be addressed to provide satisfactory interventions for both victims and offenders.
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Law enforcement with experience of working with cases of online abuse has described the relationship between offender and victim as either reciprocal, in which the victim willingly cooperates with the offender, or unilateral, in which the victim is forced or manipulated.
“Law enforcement with experience of working with cases of online abuse has described the relationship between offender and victim as either reciprocal, in which the victim willingly cooperates with the offender, or unilateral, in which the victim is forced or manipulated (Tener et al., 2015).”
From Offender strategies for engaging children in online sexual activity (2021) · cites this paper as Tener et al., 2015
Early initiation of sexual topics is also reported in interactions with actual children, and some interactions are described as lacking elements of grooming altogether.
“Early initiation of sexual topics is also reported in interactions with actual children (Tener et al., 2015), and some interactions are described as lacking elements of grooming altogether (Kloess et al., 2019).”
From Offender strategies for engaging children in online sexual activity (2021) · cites this paper as Tener et al., 2015
The relationship between offender and victim can be described as either reciprocal or unilateral.
“This study also shows that the relationship between offender and victim can be described as either reciprocal or unilateral (Tener et al., 2015).”
From Offender strategies for engaging children in online sexual activity (2021) · cites this paper as Tener et al., 2015
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Sexual offenders contacting children online: An examination of transcripts of sexual grooming
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Offender strategies for engaging children in online sexual activity
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“This study also shows that the relationship between offender and victim can be described as either reciprocal or unilateral (Tener et al., 2015).”
An observational study of Internet behaviours for adolescent females following sexual abuse
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“The majority of cybergrooming perpetrators are male (e.g., Tener et al., 2015), and, although it has not yet been researched for cybergrooming, the risk of transitioning from victim to perpetrator is higher for boys, e.g., for bullying (Falla et al., 2022) and sexual abuse (Plummer & Cossins, 2018).”
Moosburner, M., Weber, C., Kuban, T., Wachs, S., Schmidt, A. F., Etzler, S., & Rettenberger, M. (2026) · Trauma, Violence, & Abuse · doi:10.1177/15248380251316223 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
- Authors
- Tener, D., Wolak, J., & Finkelhor, D.
- Affiliations
- University of New Hampshire (US)
- Corresponding author
- Tener, Dafna
- ORCID
- Tener, Dafna
- Venue
- Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2015-03-16
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 319-337
- ISSN
- 1092-6771 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-083X
- OpenAlex
- W2092737026
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 2.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime, Deviance, and Social Control
- Keywords
- sexual offenders, child sexual abuse, online communication, offender typology, online dating, online identity, relational dynamics, victim-offender relationship, offender intervention
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