ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the prevalence and definition of harmful sexual behaviour in male adolescents and the developmental factors that underpin this. This is followed by considering the important components of risk and intervention, such as effective formulation of the behaviour, risk scenario planning and protective factors. It illustrates how this may present in practice and focuses on the child as the adolescent male, although it would be expected for some degree of extrapolation to younger children and females. The prevalence of harmful sexual behaviour in children is reliant on accurate interpretation and then recording of such behaviours. National Committee of Enquiry report notes the importance of identifying ‘areas of concern’ in regard to potential sexually harmful behaviour in children where there is a difference of two years or more between them, with further concerns raised if one child is pre-pubertal and the other post-pubertal. Moving on from the prevalence of behaviour is the consideration of developmental factors for sexual behaviour.
