An Analysis of the Copycat Effect in Group Sexual Assaults Perpetrated by Children Under the Age of 14 in Spain

Abstract

In Spain, growing institutional and public concern has emerged regarding the increase in group sexual assaults committed by children under the age of 14. By its very nature, this phenomenon challenges not only the criminal justice system but also the educational, cultural, and technological frameworks that shape contemporary socialisation. Far from constituting isolated incidents, these behaviours appear to be embedded in broader dynamics involving the construction of masculinity, early exposure to sexualised content, and the weakening of traditional mechanisms of informal social control. From an analytical perspective, this phenomenon requires moving beyond exclusively quantitative or legal-criminal approaches and adopting a multidimensional interpretation that accounts for structural and contextual factors (Payá & Delgado, 2021). Recent literature has highlighted the ambivalent role of the media and digital platforms in shaping collective perceptions, particularly through the symbolic normalisation of sexual violence and the amplification of certain cases, which may contribute to imitation or “behavioural contagion” (Jewkes, Flood, & Lang, 2015; Madigan et al., 2018). This is compounded by virtually unrestricted access to online pornography, early exposure to which has been associated with distorted sexual expectations, objectification, and desensitisation to violence (Wright, Tokunaga, & Kraus, 2016). The Spanish legal framework, which places children under the age of 14 below the minimum age of criminal responsibility, introduces an additional variable concerning perceptions of risk and consequences and may—at least in certain contexts—influence their decision-making (Bottoms, 2019). However, reducing the phenomenon to a logic of “perceived impunity” would be overly simplistic. Deficiencies in relationships and sexuality education, limitations in the development of socio-emotional skills, and group dynamics characteristic of early adolescence—when peer pressure and the search for recognition acquire particular weight—must also be considered (Bandura, 2001; Vygotsky, 1978). This article therefore provides a comprehensive analysis integrating legal, psychosocial, and cultural dimensions in order to identify risk factors and the mechanisms through which these behaviours are reproduced (Liz, 2018; Payá & Delgado, 2021). Beyond describing the problem, it seeks to contribute to the development of evidence-based intervention strategies focused on primary prevention, media literacy, and the strengthening of emotional and relational skills from an early age. Ultimately, every statistical observation reflects specific life trajectories, both those of victims and those of the children who perpetrate these acts, whose behaviour must be interpreted within complex socialisation processes (Rodríguez et al., 2023). From this perspective, the societal response cannot be confined to punitive measures; it must incorporate coherent public policies that address the roots of the problem and promote safer, more equitable, and more empathetic developmental environments (Lancharro, 2024). (Rodríguez et al., 2023).