Perpetrators of child sexual abuse

Characteristics of child sexual abusers

• Child sexual abusers are not a homogeneous group. They can be either male or female; heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual; in a couple or single; from any ethnic background; or from different socio-economic backgrounds.²
• Although their motivations vary, child sexual abusers share certain personal characteristics more often than non-abusers do:

Personal characteristics of child sexual abusers1,4,5,2,11
Poor social skills	Strained relationships with adults
Feelings of powerlessness	Unsatisfactory relationships with adults
Low self-esteem, self-devaluation	Vulnerability in regard to their masculinity
Feelings of humiliation	Loneliness
Emotional attachment problems	Sexual problems

 

• Gender of child sexual abusers

  • Most minors who are victims of sexual abuse are victimized by males. In fact, according to available studies, the proportion is 85% or more. The proportion is even higher in the case of girls.¹¹ For more information, see the statistics on child sexual abuse.
  • Even though men make up the majority of perpetrators of child sexual abuse, it appears that a large number of abusers are female. Men victimized in childhood report that they were abused by a woman in nearly 40% of cases.¹² For more information, see the fact sheet on sexual assault by women.

• Age of child sexual abusers

  • A large proportion of child sexual abuse seems to be committed by minors. Studies have estimated, using various victim samples, that 40% to 51% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by people under 20 years of age and that 13% to 18% is committed by children under the age of 13.¹³ For more information, see the statistics on child sexual abuse.

• Relationship of abusers to their victims

  • Perpetrators of child sexual abuse are very often known to their victims (in 75% to 90% of reported cases).¹¹ For more information, see the statistics on child sexual abuse.
  • Close to one quarter of victims surveyed during a Québec population survey reported that they had been abused by a member of their immediate family, either a parent or a sibling.¹⁴
  • A number of data show that stepfathers are more likely than biological fathers to sexually abuse a child in their family.¹³
  • Many studies report that sexual abuse is committed more often by a sibling than by a paternal figure.^11,13

• Mental health of child sexual abusers

  • A large proportion of perpetrators of child sexual abuse who have been diagnosed as pedophiles have had a mental health problem at some point in their life (a mood disorder in 60% to 80% of cases, an anxiety disorder in 50% to 60% of cases and a personality disorder in 70% to 80% of cases).²
  • A few studies have shown that a large proportion of perpetrators diagnosed as pedophiles have also received a diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence at some point in their life (in 50% to 60% of cases).^5,2

• Cognitive distortions of child sexual abusers

  Cognitive distortions correspond to faulty thinking that reflects unrealistic or distorted perceptions of reality. They are found among many perpetrators of sexual abuse and are expressed in the form of justifications for the offences they commit.¹ They are formulated in such a way as to deny, minimize, rationalize or even perpetuate the perpetrator’s behaviour.² Below are some of the cognitive distortions often encountered among child sexual abusers:

  • “The child consented to the sexual activity because she did not say ‘no’ and derived pleasure from the abuse.”
  • “I’m contributing to the child’s sex education.”
  • “I’m very gentle and never use violence; it’s not sexual abuse.”
  • “The child wanted me to do it because she was the one who suggested we get closer.”

Child sexual abuser typologies

• Despite the range of child sexual abuser profiles, various typologies have been proposed over the past 30 years to classify child sexual abusers on the basis of their personal characteristics and/or those of their victims, and their motivations for committing sexual abuse.
• The most popular typologies are those developed by Groth (1978)¹⁵ and, more recently, by Knight and Prentky (1990).¹⁶

• • Groth’s typology proposes two types of perpetrator: the fixated perpetrator, who has a persistent and compulsive attraction to children, and the regressed perpetrator, whose sexually abusive behaviour is triggered by certain specific situations and external stressors.⁴
     
  • Knight and Prentky’s typology identifies several subtypes of child sexual abusers based, in particular, on the degree to which they are attracted to children, their level of social competence, the amount of non-sexual contact they seek with children and the amount of physical violence they use in abusing children.⁴
• In Québec, experts have developed three different profiles of child sexual abusers based on the abusers’ personal characteristics and the characteristics of the abuse they commit.¹⁷ These profiles were defined through criminal profiling of convicted child sex offenders in Québec. Profiling of this type is the main investigative tool for identifying suspects or guiding criminal investigations.¹⁷ The three profiles developed are: “isolated pedophile”, “orderly pedophile” and “festive pedophile”.

• Isolated pedophile

  This profile accounted for one third of a sample selected for the purposes of a study on incarcerated child sexual abusers.

  Lifestyle

  • Is usually not involved in a romantic relationship and lives alone
  • Does not go to bars or use alcohol or drugs Has an education and a job

  Characteristics of the sexual abuse committed

  • Is premediated but does not involve coercion
  • Is intended to establish a climate of trust so that an intimate relationship can be developed with the victim
  • More often targets male victims
  • Consists primarily of sexual acts involving fellatio and masturbation

• Orderly pedophile

  This profile accounted for one quarter of a sample selected for the purposes of a study on incarcerated child sexual abusers.

  Lifestyle

  • Rarely lives alone and is in a couple relationship in 50% of cases
  • Seems to lead a quiet, orderly life (rarely goes to bars, goes to bed early, has a job and is a homeowner
  • May use alcohol before committing the abuse, but does not use drugs

    Characteristics of the sexual abuse committed

  • Is premeditated but does not involve a pre-selected victim
  • Often involves viewing pornography beforehand
  • Is often perpetrated by someone who is close to the victim or by a member of the victim’s family
  • Consists primarily of sexual acts involving penetration

• Festive pedophile

  This profile accounted for 43% of a sample selected for the purposes of a study on incarcerated child sexual abusers.

  Lifestyle

  • Is rarely involved in a romantic relationship
  • Is a night owl and often goes to bars
  • Seeks immediate satisfaction
  • Uses drugs and alcohol regularly
  • Rarely owns a house and is often unemployed

  Characteristics of the sexual abuse committed

  • Lacks premeditation
  • Often involves coercion
  • Is often perpetrated while intoxicated
  • Consists primarily of sexual acts involving penetration

Strategies used by perpetrators to commit child sexual abuse

A number of studies have shed light on the strategies used by perpetrators in order to abuse children.

• A large majority of sexual offences against children (between 70% and 80%) are premediated, which runs counter to the notion that uncontrolled impulses and lack of control are what drive perpetrators of child sexual abuse.²
• People who abuse children from outside the family usually try to place themselves in a position of authority where they will be in contact with children who are not under adult supervision: for example, they baby-sit, work as volunteers with children or coach sports teams. They then try to win the trust of the children and their parents.²
• On account of their poor social skills, many child sexual abusers are at ease in relationships with children who are passive, psychologically dependent and easy to manipulate.⁴ Indeed, these characteristics are sought by certain perpetrators, and the children who display them can be more vulnerable to sexual abuse.^2,11
• Most child sexual abusers create a climate that breaks down the child’s resistance and thus enables them to victimize the child. This preparation strategy allows them to manipulate potential victims into agreeing to the sexual activities the abusers initiate. Below is a list of strategies employed by perpetrators, the majority of which do not involve coercion:^1,4,2,17.
  • Creation of a state of emotional dependence/manipulation
  • Seduction
  • Persuasion and manipulation
  • Games
  • Gradual desensitization
  • Gifts, privileges
  • Threats
  • Physical or verbal coercion

Perpetrators of adult sexual assault

Characteristics of perpetrators of sexual assault against women

• People who sexually assault adult females are not a homogeneous group.⁴ Their wide range of profiles is due to the diversity of their motivations for committing sexual assault and their divergent modus operandi.¹⁸

• Nonetheless, people who sexually assault women are more likely to have certain personal characteristics:

  Personal characteristics of perpetrators of sexual assault against women4
  In childhood
  Physical abuse	Family problems
  In adulthood
  Belief in myths about rape	Acceptance of violence (approval)
  Strong identification with male stereotypes	Negative view of women
  Low self-esteem	Difficulty managing aggression and anger
  Substance abuse	Mood disturbances (sadness, anger, fear, anxiety)

Experts have identified two important factors that lead people to sexually assault adult females: deviant sexual interests and cognitive distortions.¹

• Deviant sexual interests

  People who sexually assault women are more likely to be interested in non-consensual sexual relations involving physical violence or humiliation¹.

• Cognitive distortions

  Cognitive distortions correspond to faulty thinking on the part of perpetrators that reflects unrealistic or distorted perceptions of reality. Perpetrators use these distortions to justify the crimes they commit.

  Below are some examples of the cognitive distortions concerning women and sexual assault encountered among people who victimize women.

  • “Women enjoy forced sexual activities.”
  • “It was the victim who initiated the contact.”
  • “Women control, reject and humiliate me.”
  • “Committing a crime is a fair way to compensate for past injustices.”

 

Typologies of perpetrators of sexual assault against women

• Over the past 30 years, several authors have proposed typologies of perpetrators of sexual assault against women based on the perpetrators’ personal characteristics, motivations for committing sexual assault, modus operandi, triggers, and other antisocial behaviour (e.g. Groth, 1979; Knight and Prenty, 1990; Barbaree, 1994).⁴
• The following table summarizes the main typologies proposed by various authors on the basis of perpetrators’ personal characteristics, motivations and modus operandi.^4,18

• Summary of typologies of perpetrators of sexual assault against women

  	Compensatory	Sadistic	Angry (power/control)	Opportunistic
  General lifestyle	Poor social skills Show little aggressive behaviour	Low self-esteem Social isolation Opposed to authority Self-mutilation Often psychopathic	Temper tantrums Substance abuse	No major problems Adventure-seeking lifestyle Difficulties with impulse control
  Love and sex life	May have seduction problems Doubt their desirability Lack the ability to form a relationship with a partner of the same age	Deviant or non-deviant sexuality Focused on sexuality (e.g. compulsive masturbation)	Non-deviant sexuality Diverse and intense sexuality (e.g. pornography, erotic bars, prostitutes, etc.)	Non-deviant sexuality Sexual dissatisfaction (nature and frequency of sexual relations)
  Life circumstances in the months prior to an offence	Feelings of inadequacy	Conflicts with women	Loneliness Low self-esteem	Conflicts with authority Conflicts with women
  Motivations	Use aggressive behaviour to offset fears about their masculinity	Achieve sexual gratification through the victim’s pain and fear	Desire power and dominance over the victim May be motivated by a desire to humiliate the victim Often motivated by anger and rage	Motivated by immediate sexual gratification
  Characteristics of sexual assaults committed and modus operandi	Use only as much force as necessary to achieve sexual gratification May flee if the victim cries out or defends herself	Plan their crimes in great detail Usually victimize strangers Show little or no remorse Use a high level of violence that can lead to sexual murder	Express aggression sexually May premeditate the sexual assault with a specific victim in mind or act impulsively against people who have made them angry	May commit sexual assault in the course of another crime

  Based on Robertiello and Terry (2007) and Proulx, St-Yves, Guay and Ouimet (1999)

Research on perpetrators of sexual assault against women

Minors who commit sexual assault

• Minors are responsible for a large number of sexual assaults. Sexual assault data compiled by police services in both Québec and Canada show that young people under 18 form the age group with the largest number of perpetrators.^19,20,21
  
  
• Many adults who commit sexual assault say that they committed their first assault when they were adolescents (between 50% and 80% depending on the study). This demonstrates the importance of taking action early on to prevent adolescent perpetrators from committing other sexual assaults later in life.¹

Characteristics of adolescents who commit sexual assault

• Adolescent perpetrators of sexual assault who are known to the authorities form a heterogeneous group, not only with regard to the sexual acts they commit and the victims they choose, but also with regard to their personal characteristics.^24,25
• Adolescents victimize people of all ages, be they males, females, people they know or strangers.^1,4
• Adolescent perpetrators share more similarities than differences with adolescent non-sex offenders.²⁴
• Adolescents who sexually abuse a sibling more often have behavioural disorders, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), and mood and anxiety disorders.²⁶

Personal characteristics of adolescent perpetrators of sexual assault1,4,11,27
Early breakdown in the continuity of paternal care	Sexual abuse (in roughly 30% of cases) and physical abuse in childhood
Learning disorders and academic retardation	Alcohol and drug use during assaults
Social isolation (especially child abusers)	Social maladjustment and asocial behaviour
Depressive symptoms	Regular viewing of pornography
Family dysfunction	Behavioural disorders
Social skill deficits

Behavioural disorder or indictable offence?

When a minor commits a sexual assault, two laws with different objectives are brought into play: the Youth Protection Act (YPA) and Youth Criminal Justice Act(YCJA).¹ The YPA ensures the security and development of children, particularly those with a serious behavioural disturbance. Therefore, minors who sexually abuse children or commit offences involving “less serious” forms of sexual assault are more likely to be taken in charge under subparagraph f of the second paragraph of section 38 concerning serious sexual disturbance. This type of disturbance refers to “a situation in which a child behaves in such a way as to repeatedly or seriously undermine the child's or others' physical or psychological integrity”.

Minors who have committed “more serious” forms of sexual assault or who have sexually assaulted adolescents or adults are more frequently taken in charge under the YCJA. This Act sets out the principles, rules of procedure and sentences applicable under federal legislation, such as the Canadian Criminal Code, to young people aged 12 to 17 at the time when they commit an offence. In such cases, the matter may be referred to the court and the young person must appear before the Youth Division. Referral to the court is automatic in the case of sexual assault with a weapon or aggravated sexual assault. For more information on sexual assault legislation, see the Legal Framework section.

Typologies of adolescent perpetrators of sexual assault

A number of typologies have been proposed to describe the various profiles of adolescents who commit sexual assault. However, two main categories can be defined based on the age of the victims: adolescents who sexually abuse children and those who sexually assault other adolescents or adults.⁴

• Adolescents who sexually abuse children

  • Adolescents in this category target both girls and boys (20% to 30% boys) and often their siblings, other children in their extended family or children under their responsibility (e.g. children they are baby-sitting).
  • They rely on opportunity, trickery, manipulation, threats and, more rarely, force.⁴
  •  They often have low self-esteem and are more likely to lack social skills and show signs of depression.⁴

• Adolescents who sexually assault other adolescents or adults

  • The adolescents in this category assault female adolescents and women almost exclusively.¹
  • They commit other crimes in addition to sexual assault and exhibit a more generalized type of delinquency.⁴
  • They are more likely to target strangers, use violence and cause injuries to their victims.⁴