Cumulative Adversity and Pathways to Coercive Recruitment

The disadvantage and adversity that predisposes a child to abuse and neglect may in fact be just as damaging to lifespan development and wellbeing as the abuse itself. Essentially, risk factors, victimization experiences and victimization types are significantly more predictive and more valuable, in research and in practice, when considered cumulatively. With regard to pathways to coercive recruitment, particularly into criminal activity (Gangs, violent extremism, smuggling and drug-muling), the research regarding ‘cross over kids' highlights the importance of cumulative harm in explaining the outcomes observed among crossover children (Bromfield & Miller, 2012). These experiences, in turn, can result in young people turning to gangs and crime as a means of gaining love, respect and power.