Publication Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2005
What to watch for
What to watch for
(September 28, 2005)
There are certain common factors many sexual perpetrators share.
Thomas Plante, a psychology professor at Santa Clara University, said first and foremost perpetrators usually have trouble with boundaries. They become overly involved and too invested in the lives of kids. Here are some signs:
*A coach or a teacher wants a lot of private time with a student, takes an unusual interest in them or wants to see a student or a kid at odd hours, weekends or evenings. They ask intimate details about the student's love life, seeming more like a peer than a role model.
*A perpetrator may also have trouble with his or her adult relationships and want to spend more time with young people than his or her spouse.
*Problems with drugs and alcohol.
*He or she is a victim of sexual abuse.
*A lack of impulse control. For example, he or she may have issues with excessive eating, gambling or anger.
There are also factors that put certain children at risk of being sexually abused. Kids who attach themselves to a teacher rather than their peers are more at risk, Plante said. Some children or teens might do this if they lack healthy relationships with parents or guardians at home, he said.
Parents of over-achieving students who want to please their teachers and coaches should keep a close eye out.
Parents also need to pay attention to their instincts. Sexual predators partake in "grooming" behavior, such as taking the student out for lunch, dinner and ice cream.
"Parents, kids as well, can smell that something is amiss," he said.
If you suspect something, here are some options:
For help, call police or the Rape Crisis Center's 24-hour hotline at 650-403-7273 or 408-287-3000.
For information, call the National Child Assault Prevention Project at 408-295-4011 or visit www.ncap.org.
You can also visit the Sexuality Information and Education Council's Web site at www.siecus.org.
--Alexandria Rocha
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