Screen to Session: Addressing Gaming and Anime Subcultures with Individuals Who Have Sexually Offended
Dr. Tracy Alvord and her colleagues, Elizabeth Bigham, Michael “Christian” Alvord, and Markus Wiegel, developed this training to examine the risks associated with, and responses to, online gaming in the context of sexual harm. Presenters review current research on sexual offending in gaming-related environments, including grooming techniques, platform affordances, and patterns of exploitation. They also discuss law-enforcement strategies for identifying and investigating sexual exploitation in gaming-related environments, including ways to recognize individuals who target minors (often referred to as “bad players”) in these spaces.
The training addresses clinical implications, including assessment considerations, treatment targets, and interventions for individuals who have committed sexual offenses and engage in gaming. Emphasis is placed on collaboration between treatment providers and community supervision officers to support effective risk management. Demonstrations of gaming platforms, sexually explicit video game—including anime- and hentai-related genres—and related social media environments are incorporated to strengthen participants’ understanding of these contexts.
