A Content Analysis of Posts to an Online Support Forum for "Girl Lovers". Issue 5 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cantor, Nicole; Yucel, Ebru; Mitchell, Damon; Angelone, DJ
• Is Part Of: Journal of child sexual abuse. Volume 31:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 522
• Page End: 537
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: Internet sex crimes -- children -- clinical issue -- Offender/Perpetrator; Child sexual abuse -- Periodicals; Child sexual abuse -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Child molesters -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Sexually abused children -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Child Abuse, Sexual -- Periodicals; 362.76
• DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2022.2112348
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-8712

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The internet is an effective tool for studying the cognitive distortions among those with a sexual attraction to children. Identified through previous works, users of an online "boy love" forum were found to present a variety of justifications for adult-child sexual relations. The current study extends this line of inquiry, analyzing posts from an online "girl love" forum. We found that the most common justification to appear reflected a belief that societal attitudes and authority figures were to blame for the harms caused by adult-child sex. We also found that the forum provided users with support and reinforcement for such distorted beliefs. Overall, online forums provide a window into the cognitive life of individuals with a sexual attraction to children, and one that reflects beliefs that may be largely unexpressed in the confines of forensic treatment settings.