The Australian Institute of Criminology undertook a rapid evidence review of 17 empirical studies to examine pathways to the onset of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) offending.
- Eight factors were identified that contribute to the onset of CSAM offending, spanning three overarching categories.
- These categories were developmental (negative childhood experiences), motivational (sexual interest in children, desire for sexual gratification) and situational or facilitating factors (accidental first exposure to CSAM, pornography use and the online environment, sexual arousal, offence-supportive cognitions, psychosocial issues and maladaptive coping).
- Prevention approaches, especially technological interventions, should target pornography sites and include early psychological intervention for individuals at risk of viewing CSAM to disrupt pathways to CSAM offending.
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