All children are potential victims of sexual abuse. It is, however, quite common for paedophiles to target abandoned, maltreated children, who are in search of affection. The child who falls victim to the paedophile often has a range of affective and psychological difficulties - and also social and cultural problems.
Paedophiles often take advantage of an absence or lack in the child.
Sexual abuse may be a one-off occurrence, but in some cases a lasting and complex relationship forms between the child and the paedophile. In fact, children in this position are being deceived by the adults who, under the pretence of giving them affection, are merely attempting to satisfy their sexual desires. They may target a child through their family or neighbourhood connections. They sometimes attempt to gain the mother's confidence, even going so far as to marry the mother of the child they are pursuing. Paedophiles may resort to child prostitution in poor countries.