Grooming

Grooming is a pattern of conduct used to gain access, trust, secrecy, or control before or during abuse or exploitation. It can target a child, vulnerable person, family, community, or institution. Behaviors may include special attention, gifts, isolation, boundary testing, secrecy, threats, or gradual sexualization. No single behavior proves grooming. Investigators look at the pattern, context, communications, power differences, and how the conduct affected disclosure or resistance.