False Faces and Broken Lives: An Exploratory Study of the Interaction Behaviors Used by Male Sex Offenders in Relating to Victims
Abstract
This study examines the use of self-presentation strategies and manipulation by male sex offenders in grooming a victim for a sexual relationship. The study finds that male sex offenders use multiple categories of self-presentation strategies in their interactions with victims with the supplication strategy being present in a majority of reports of such interactions. Furthermore, the research reveals that the male sex offender uses manipulation to isolate and groom the victim for a sexual relationship in conjunction with coercive tactics to ensure the victim does not reveal the true nature of their relationship to other people. Findings are discussed in the context of luring communication theory and applications of the findings.
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The existing literature consistently describes individuals who engage in OSG, and TA-CSA more broadly, as a heterogenous group, using a wide range of strategies from flattery, gifts, and praise, to threats, intimidation, and blackmail.
“The existing literature consistently describes individuals who engage in OSG, and TA-CSA more broadly, as a heterogenous group, using a wide range of strategies from flattery, gifts, and praise, to threats, intimidation, and blackmail (Campbell, 2009; Kloess etal., 2019; Sullivan & Quayle, 2012).”
From Unraveling the Complexities of Offender Strategies as Part of Online Sexual Grooming and Technology-Assisted Child Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review (2026) · cites this paper as Campbell, 2009
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References 14 · Cited by 23
- Authors
- Campbell, A. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (US)
- Corresponding author
- Campbell, Anna Marie
- Venue
- Journal of Language and Social Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-07-28
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 428-440
- ISSN
- 0261-927X (ISSN-L)
- 1552-6526
- OpenAlex
- W2138592325
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Language and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Deception detection and forensic psychology
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Keywords
- male sex offenders, grooming, self-presentation strategies, manipulation, coercive practices, victim-offender relationship
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