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Ison Ndoro-Herald Correspondent

While other children excitedly participate in play and learning activities, Tsitsi (not her real name) sits isolated hidden in one corner of the Grade Five classroom, sobbing uncontrollably for a yet unexplained reason.

Not only does her sight fill with sadness, but she also exudes a pathetic look.

Her teacher reports that her outward appearance, body language and learning challenges epitomise a dejection that is reminiscent of the biblical Job.

Unbeknown to the teacher and caregivers, the girl may have undergone terrifying experiences that are beyond the comprehension of most people.

Her emotional dysregulation, self-isolation, and lack of participation in usual activities could be signs of abuse.

This may indicate the need for additional professional assessments and interventions.

In the context of schoolchildren, educational and child-clinical psychologists can provide assistance.

It is in light of this sorrowful possible predicament for this girl child that there should be discussions on safeguarding children from sexual abuse.

Recent news headlines in Zimbabwe have displayed a disturbing picture of sexual abuse. The stories are terrifying.

These are children endowed with untapped potential, ready to thrive and become the next generation of productive citizens.

However, a single sexual pervert, with disregard for humanity and a complete lack of empathy, can snatch away their beautiful lives in an instant.

On November 12, 2022, this publication reported that an eight-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her father, brother, and a neighbour, while the mother watched helplessly.

In May of the same year a father impregnated his 15-year-old daughter.

Other upsetting headlines carried in this publication include, “Minor’s rape lands Dzivarasekwa man in court,” “Worker accused of sexually abusing minors under his care,” and “A young woman recounts terror of her father’s sexual abuse.”

The question that arises is: What motivates some men to behave in such a way?

Why do some older men find children attractive, and what measures can be taken to safeguard these children from abuse?

Many models explain the causes of sexual abuse, but today the focus is on one that David Finkelhor developed in the early 1980s and that other scholars have gradually developed and modified over time.

He called it the Precondition Model for Sexual Offending.

It identifies the factors that lead certain individuals to sexually offend. Recognising these factors can help parents, caregivers, and communities take proactive steps to safeguard children.

The factors are emotional congruence, deviant sexual arousal, blocking and disinhibition.

The model states that to commit rape, the potential offender must overcome a number of internal and external obstacles or pre-conditions so as to achieve his goal of raping the victim; at times, this involves extensive strategising and manipulation, while at other times, he simply attacks the victim without considering the potential consequences.

It is not possible to exhaust the entire concept within the scope of this, but mastering the basics of how rapists operate will equip us with skills that will help identify early warning signs of potential rape.

The model elucidates that these four factors can operate independently or in combination to foster conditions that facilitate the commission of sexual violence or rape.

The first precondition is that a potential rapist should have adequate motivation to sexually abuse.

This is typically caused by the interplay of the following factors:

Emotional congruency: which refers to a situation where the potential rapist lacks adequate emotional development and tends to identify emotionally with young children, believing that they fulfil his emotional needs.

If you ever wondered why some grown-up men tend to play and commiserate more with children than they do with other adults, here lies your answer.

However, not all grown people who play with children have emotional congruency with them, but some rapists who target young children usually do.

Deviant sexual arousal: in the case of rapists who target children refers to the feelings of sexual arousal that they experience towards children, they are also known as paedophiles.

Blocking: is when the potential rapists face a situation where their lack of social skills, low self-esteem, and other inadequacies hinder them from engaging in appropriate, legal, and normal intimacy, making it difficult for them to establish romantic or intimate relationships with adult women.

All these factors interact within the potential rapist’s psyche, motivating him to commit rape.

If the rapist meets the first precondition, he will be prepared to address the second precondition, which involves overcoming internal inhibitions.

To do that, he needs to overcome internal restrictions that hinder him from committing rape against the child.

This explains why, for instance, some men rape children while others do not.

It all depends on the individual’s morals, values, and self-regulation of their urges, among other factors.

These factors tend to restrict individuals from behaving in a manner that is contrary to normal behaviour.

Disinhibition: is the process of overcoming these internal inhibitions through rationalisation or justification.

Disinhibition can come through intoxication and mental health challenges, among others.

That is why some rapists commit the offenses under the influence of drugs and substances.

Once the rapist overcomes internal inhibitors such as moral values, he must then overcome external inhibitors.

The rapist may provide gifts and goods or befriend the family so that he can build trust and be close to the child.

A number of factors make it possible for the rapist to circumvent external inhibitions; these include absent parents, unsecured play environments, emotionally absent parenting, and atypical sleeping arrangements such as where the young daughter sleeps with the father, among other factors.

Safeguarding interventions

Understanding the preconditions for rape enables parents, caregivers, and parents to protect their children from potential paedophiles by implementing the following measures:

Educate your children

Teaching children about their right to say “no” and body autonomy helps them realise that they possess total control over their bodies.

Explaining the difference between safe and unsafe interactions is important. Children should always be able to report any uncomfortable behaviour to teachers, guardians, parents, or any other responsible authorities.

Communication

Abused children usually remain mute due to fear or perplexity.

It is important to create an environment where they may express themselves freely without any fear of criticism or scepticism.

Watch out for grooming behaviour

Some abusers use grooming to gain children’s trust and make inappropriate behaviour seem normal.

Be vigilant and watch out for adults who attempt to spend excessive time alone with children, give them inappropriate gifts, or show excessive interest in their personal lives.

Parents and guardians can take action before abuse happens if the community is aware of grooming behaviours.

Monitor digital spaces

Rapists may use the internet to reach out to minors. Teaching children about safe online conduct and monitoring their digital interactions can thwart potential sexual abuse.

Assure them that they should report any uncomfortable online encounters and that they should never divulge personal information to strangers.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG16) includes targets related to ending violence against children.

In line with this, Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) also emphasises social protection and the well-being of vulnerable groups, especially children.

Safeguarding children against abusers is therefore not just a personal or national responsibility; it is a divine obligation.

Ison Ndoro is an Intern Forensic Psychologist and adjunct Lecturer of Psychology at the University of Zimbabwe. He writes as an independent social commentator.