Understanding the Behavior of Sexual Predators in Today’s Society Part 1
By: Tricia Wagga

The Problem

In today’s society, sexual violence against women and children has become a huge issue. This type of violence robs a person of his or her innocence. The behavior of a rapist or pedophile often evolves over time. Some perpetrators were victims of sexual abuse as children. Others might have developed this type of behavior due to a trigger such as a trauma wherein they developed deeper anger and resentment towards women.

Typically, sexual predators are preferential offenders which means that they stick to children, women, or men. They often seek out surrogates for their ideal victim. The violence often escalates because they thrive on this type of sadistic behavior. Once a person commits this type of crime, they become addicted to the feeling that it gives them. This is why rehabilitating these criminals is so difficult. The criminal justice system houses many sexual predators in jails and prisons globally.

Most countries have minimum and maximum sentencing guidelines which means that rapists often leave prison within several years especially if they are first time offenders.  This has led to issue with trying to stop these individuals from committing additional offenses.

Children often are preyed upon because they are too trusting and they are easy to stalk. Most kids today have strict routines which means that pedophiles can easily stalk them and learn their whereabouts at all times. Many pedophiles wait in vehicles on the streets and take pictures of children and then devise plans on how to abduct them.

There are many ruses that are used to lure children into vehicles. For example, a man might come up to children with a dog leash and claim their dog is lost and ask them to help with the search. A child might be asked for directions from a man pretending to be lost and then be pulled into a van quickly. Pedophiles can work in teams so it is crucial for kids to always understand that talking to strangers is not a good idea in an era where the world has become much less safe.

How to Protect Children from Pedophiles

There is no foolproof way to protect your children from pedophiles but there are ways to reduce the likelihood of your child becoming a victim. First, make sure you use age appropriate dolls to demonstrate where adults should not ever touch them. Kids are very intelligent so they need to know this so that they can begin to create safeguards for themselves.  If a child is being touched inappropriately, then they should be instructed to try to run away and report the incident to a parent or authority figure that is trustworthy.

Pedophiles often tell their victims that they will harm their family members if they speak the truth to anyone. Children need to know that this is a lie and that they have an open line of communication with you and that you will believe them if they state that they have been molested. Never question a child or jump to conclusions because this can make them feel attacked or ashamed.

Secure Your Home

Many sexual predators are familiar with a person’s residence before they commit the actual crime. Make sure that any branches are removed from around the home. Windows should be closed if possible at bedtime and any broken windows, doors or entry points should be fixed.

Never leave spare keys to your home outside of the perimeter. Criminals can easily snatch them and have copies made or come back and use the keys themselves. If you spot any unfamiliar vehicles in your neighborhood, then keep the license plate information handy and make neighbors aware if the presence of the vehicle continues.

It is advisable to never leave your child with strangers. People often let their guard down and trust individuals who might be befriending them to get close to their children. SIngle mothers can often be targets of pedophiles because they know that they will have easy access to the children residing there.

Our gut instinct can be a big help to sensing when danger is near. Parents often feel something when their children are in danger. Never discount your own feelings because psychologically your brain is trying to send you a signal and alert you to something that you should know.

It is important to empower children and help them feel safer. Walking in groups to and from school can be helpful. One idea is to have a few mothers wear brightly colored vests and walk with children. There is safety in numbers and pedophiles will often go elsewhere because they are afraid of being caught trying to commit a criminal act. Sexual predators are everywhere so it is crucial to understand their mindset to raise awareness.

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