Sexual offenders groom
potential victims to foster willing participation in the abusive relationship. This reduces the likelihood that the victim will disclose the relationship or stop the offender from continuing the abuse. Other reasons for grooming include to:
Manipulate the perceptions of other people around the individual
Gain trust and reduce the likelihood of the child being believed if they do disclose the relationship
Reduce the chance that the abuse is discovered
Those who engage in grooming have long-term motives: to sexually abuse another individual and lessen the chance that their actions will be discovered.