Given the prevalence of , you cannot rely on a gut feeling alone. Here is a modern safety protocol:
However, when the parents returned home three hours early, they discovered the sitter had turned the living room into a film set. She had invited three strangers over to film a "horror audition tape." The 4-year-old daughter was locked in the laundry room with the lights off so she wouldn't "ruin the shot." The child was covered in fake blood used as props.
When we think of a babysitter "gone bad," the mind often jumps to the most extreme, headline-grabbing scenarios. However, the breach of trust exists on a spectrum, ranging from irresponsible immaturity to calculated criminality.
What drives someone to abuse a position of power over a helpless child? Psychologists suggest several factors at play, ranging from a lack of emotional regulation to personality disorders.