Motivational Intent in the Sexual Assault of Children

Abstract

This study analyzes 74 preadult victims' accounts of sexual assault and 137 convicted child offenders' accounts of sexual assault. Two types of child assault were identified: sex-pressure, which was achieved by offender enticement and/or entrapment of the child into sexual activity; and sex-force, where the victim was forced to submit to the assault through exploitation, intimidation, and/or aggression. Life issues of dominance, power, authority, control, aggression, and sadism were present in varying degrees of intensity in the assault.