UNITED STATES
Watch Keep
What makes child molesters so successful in going undetected?
Dr. Salter: Deception. They are master deceivers, both in deceiving themselves and others. I have found that there are two characteristics of sex offenders:
It is in their best interest to lie.
It is something they can lie about and not get caught.
Sexual offenders look for opportunities in which they can minimize the risk of getting caught, and part of doing so is to create an environment in which they are liked, trusted and accepted without question. This is why religious institutions are particularly vulnerable.
Why don’t more victims come forward?
Dr. Salter: This is a very difficult question. In the case of child molestation, often the victim feels as if he/she has done something wrong or won’t be believed when compared to a respected adult. In other situations there are direct threats that force silence, and often the child is just confused by conflicting emotions and chooses silence rather than confronting someone their parents trust.
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