Interpersonal trust and information disclosure in early‐stage adult grooming

Abstract

Purpose

Adult grooming faces societal scepticism and is legally complex. There is a lack of empirical evidence, despite increasing recognition in the literature of a likely process associated with adult grooming. The present study aimed to provide a basis for further exploration, considering factors influencing early-stage adult grooming, through investigation of the perpetrator’s disposition and context of trust development on information disclosure.

Methods

Using a mixed experimental design, the final sample of participants (N = 135) was randomly assigned to one of two conditions (prosocial, antisocial) and presented with three vignettes (workplace, sports, and university), all depicting an interaction of a power imbalance relationship.

Results

The perceived trustworthiness of the individual in power (perpetrator), the likelihood that the individual of lesser power (victim) would disclose personal information, and participants’ own propensity to trust were measured. Results indicated prosocial perpetrators were perceived as more likely to be trustworthy and to elicit information compared with antisocial perpetrators. Furthermore, perpetrators in the workplace were perceived as the least trustworthy and the least likely to elicit information compared with sports and university contexts.

Conclusions

This study provides some insight into possible factors that influence early-stage adult grooming. It has the potential to inform further research, to work toward strategies to address real-world contexts.