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Summary by Emerald O’Brien Sexual con artists wear many “masks” to hide their true intentions. These masks can’t be seen as real masks can. They are invisible disguises meant to keep a con artist’s games from being discovered. But if youth learn to look closely, they will see that behind each mask is someone who wants to use and manipulate them. Targets also wear masks to cover up the shame, fear, or humiliation they feel. As a classroom project to illustrate how teenagers felt about being involved in a sexual con game, students made paper maché or plaster masks to [...]

With sugaring, an aggressively regressive system has been normalized in our society to the point that we have mainstream publications advising well-off men on how to exploit young women for sex. In Summer 2020, a Men’s Health article discussed the concept of “sugar dating” in disturbingly neutral terms – including what a sugar daddy looks for in a “sugar baby,” and how popular “sugaring” has become with unemployment on the rise from COVID-19. In the article, sugar dating is depicted as just another choice for women and is coded as “taking control of one’s life” and “being your own boss.” In history [...]

Summary by Emerald O’Brien Emotional grooming is not limited to human relationships.  Media messages are grooming many teens and some adults.  The goal of any con game is to manipulate, persuade, or coerce someone into doing what the groomer wants. Many advertisers and media executives admit that they’ll do whatever it takes to get and keep your attention.  A high-ranking Abercrombie and Fitch popular pre-teen and teen clothier and magazine mogul commented to The New York Times,  “I pay little attention to the critics who feel that youth ought to be locked in boxes until they’re 50.  All [...]

By Emerald O’Brien The Nine Grooming Tactics Con Artists use to gain control of a “target” include:  Jealousy and possessiveness, Insecurity, Intimidation, Anger, Accusations, Flattery, Status, Bribery and Control.  Once teens can recognize the specific tactics that groomers use to manipulate their targets they can more easily detect and avoid the “players.” Expressions of jealousy and other difficult feelings are normal from time to time but they are used by a con artist  to manipulate. These tactics are unhealthy in any relationship. You should never be pushed into a relationship that you’re not ready for. You need to develop [...]

Summary by Emerald O’Brien Emotional grooming is a process by which the perpetrator or “Con” manipulates their target’s emotions to seduce, coerce, or con them into sexual behavior.  They most likely learned their behavior from peers, media, or other adult role models.  Most Cons have never seen or experienced the mutual respect and selfless behaviors it takes to maintain or create a healthy relationship. Perpetrators of sexual crimes and that is what it is, can be male or female.  They need two things, first to control their victim to create a false sense of trust and second, secrecy.  [...]

Most people know it — even kid about it; that they are their own worst enemy. They are critical of themselves in ways they would never be of others. And when they stop long enough to pay attention, they can also acknowledge that they are the worse for all of that self-chastising. The problem is that, too often, they don’t try to stop, or don’t know how. Those who are masters at self-criticism often create relationship problems with it. Consider Nancy. She is a very nice woman who had a caring boyfriend, Steve. The problem is that she tends to [...]