Preventing child sexual abuse by understanding perpetrators’ motivations

This project aims to investigate, for the first time, the experiential motivations of child sexual abuse perpetrators. Using a novel theoretical and methodological approach, it expects to discover new knowledge about the motivations of child sexual abuse perpetrators. Expected outcomes include new theoretical explanations for child sexual abuse perpetration and transformed policy and practice measures to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse in Australia and beyond. This should provide significant benefits, such as reduction of the widespread, severe and costly impacts of child sexual abuse, and an evidence base to support and enhance government initiatives such as the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse.

The project aims to:

1. Discover new knowledge about what motivates adults to perpetrate CSA.
2. Advance theoretical explanations of CSA perpetration.
3. Develop a new understanding of CSA perpetration by eliciting the unique knowledge of perpetrators.
4. Create a foundational evidence base about CSA perpetration to inform innovative prevention policy and practice.

Chief Investigator

• Professor Kelly Richards
  

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