Pedophilia

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Pedophilia (or paedophilia, originally Greek παιδοφιλια; paidophilia) is an erotic age preference (chronophilia) and orientation towards pre-pubescent children. It is to be distinguished from Pedophilic Disorder - a medical diagnosis of disputed merit.

While the exact definition varies by context, the medical definition of Pedophilic Disorder most commonly referred to is that of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Common usage does not follow either the etymological meaning, nor the strict medical definitions of an adult or teen who is attracted to prepubescent children. In colloquial use, the term instead refers indiscriminately to any adult who is attracted to, or has sexual contact with, an a person under the age of consent, or the age of majority (often 16-18 in most western countries). The correct term for an attraction to pubescents would be hebephilia.

In many societies and cultures, the term pedophile is highly stigmatized, and represents an image of an evil, callous monster. This spurs many self-identified pedophiles to adopt names such as boylover, MAP, girllover, and childlover, among others, to assist in differentiating themselves and their values from this stereotype.

Some believe that pedophiles have made great contributions to past societies, and that their influence is often ignored or their attraction to children is greatly played down. Others disagree with this idea, and claim that alleged historical pedophiles actually preferred the company of persons who were in their late teens or early 20s.

Pedophilia according to...

The term paedophilia erotica was coined in an 1886 article by the Viennese psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing, who also happened to be anti-masturbation, and against most forms of sexuality in children. For a full history of pedophilia as a medical diagnosis, see Wikipedia.

The concept of pedophilia as an orientation, or at least a "disorder and not a crime" is considered to be a contrary, but not unacceptable position within parts of mainstream society, scholarship and media. Some professionals and activists have identified that one implication of this approach, is that pedophilia (as a disorder or disability) should be destigmatized "in and of itself". This "liberal" approach appears to ignore the uncomfortable truth that diagnostic criteria specify the need for distress, and sometimes acting upon the impulse, implying that ego-syntonic, non-offending pedophiles suffer from no disorder at all. Indeed, this lack of inclusivity has caused controversy within academia. Ray Blanchard, an American-Canadian sexologist known for his research studies on pedophilia, addressed (in his literature review for the DSM-5) these objections, and proposed a general solution applicable to all "paraphilias". This was a distinction between paraphilia and paraphilic disorder. This distinction was implemented, but the resulting implication that pedophilia might be a sexual orientation was met with hysteria in the media and among right-wing pressure groups, forcing the APA to change the word "orientation" to "interest" in their online copy. The prison, legal, medical and pharmaceutical industries all either directly or indirectly profit from the pathologization and medicalization of pedophilia. The diagnosis of pedophilia, has, for example, been used to justify discriminatory and involuntarily, and indefinite commitment of sex offenders to psychiatric facilities ("hospitals") after their sentences have been served. Conversion therapy (see also "A "cure" for pedophilia?") - based upon the faulty belief that sexual orientation is the primary determinant of behavior, is another technique that has been used on pedophiles. Further negative consequences of diagnosis have been recorded, including assault, and abusive psychotherapy, compulsion towards chemical castration, and sexual assault of minor and adult patients within facilities.

The DSM

According to the APA's DSM-5, there are three criteria for Pedophilic Disorder:

• An individual who has had arousing fantasies about, urges for, or behaviors with a prepubescent child or children.
• The individual has acted out these sexual desires, or is experiencing significant distress or difficulty as a result of these desires.
• The Individual is 16 years of age, and at least five years older than the child or children noted in Criterion A.

Specifiers are:

• Exclusive type - sexual attraction to children only.
• Non-exclusive type - sexual attraction to adults and children.
• Attraction to boys.
• Attraction to girls.
• Incestuous only.

According to the DSM-5, the actual prevalence of Pedophilic Disorder is unknown, with an estimate of up to 3-5% (American Psychiatric Association, 2013a).

The ICD-11

According to the WHO's ICD-11 diagnostic manual:

"Paraphilic Disorders are characterized by persistent and intense patterns of atypical sexual arousal, manifested by sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, or behaviours, in which the focus of the arousal pattern involves others whose age or status renders them unwilling or unable to consent (e.g., pre-pubertal children, an unsuspecting individual being viewed through a window, an animal). Paraphilic Disorders may also involve other atypical sexual arousal patterns if they cause marked distress to the individual or involve significant risk of injury or death."

"Many sexual crimes involve actions or behaviours that are not associated with a sustained underlying paraphilic arousal pattern. Rather, these behaviours may be transient and occur impulsively or opportunistically, or in relation to substance use or intoxication. A diagnosis of a Paraphilic Disorder should not be assigned in such cases. [...] Paraphilic Disorders should not be diagnosed among children and should be diagnosed only with utmost caution among adolescents. Sexual experimentation is typical during adolescence and sexual acts may occur impulsively or opportunistically rather than representing a recurrent pattern of sexual arousal."

Paraphilic Disorders include the following:

• Pedophilic Disorder. Specifically:

"Pedophilic disorder is characterised by a sustained, focused, and intense pattern of sexual arousal—as manifested by persistent sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, or behaviours—involving pre-pubertal children. In addition, in order for Pedophilic Disorder to be diagnosed, the individual must have acted on these thoughts, fantasies or urges or be markedly distressed by them. This diagnosis does not apply to sexual behaviours among pre- or post-pubertal children with peers who are close in age."

Calls for declassification

See also: Research: Psychopathy and abnormal psychology.

There are many voices past and present in favor of declassifying pedophilia as a mental disorder, or removal of the broader, and scientifically questionable paraphilia category. These are not limited to activist organizations such as Newgon, and have included influential psychologists such as Richard Green, who was instrumental in the declassification of Homosexuality, and Philip Tromovitch:

• Haeberle, Erwin J. (2010). "Paraphilia - A Prescientific Concept," Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology.
• Green, R. (2002, Dec). Is Pedophilia a Mental Disorder?, in Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31, 467–471.
• Malón, Agustin (2012). "Pedophilia: A Diagnosis in Search of a Disorder", Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(5), pp. 1083-1097.
• Vogt, H. (2006). Pädophilie: Leipzicher Studie zur gesellschaftlichen und psychischen Situation pädophiler Männer (Pedophilia: The Leipziger Study of the Social and Psychical Situation of Pedophilic Men). Pabst Science Publishers.
• Tromovitch, P. (2008, Oct. 16). Manufacturing Mental Disorder by Pathologizing Erotic Age Orientation: A Comment on Blanchard et al. (2008). Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 328.
• Hinderliter, Andrew C. (2010). "Defining Paraphilia: Excluding Exclusion," Open Access Journal of Forensic Psychology, 2, 241–272.
• Moser, C. (2008 Oct. 23). When Is an Unusual Sexual Interest a Mental Disorder? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 38, 323–325.

Quotes

“There is nothing wrong with pedophilia in the sense of the word, that is, against liking, even loving, children [...] The sensuality that spontaneously unfolds between a child and an adult is something wonderful. Nothing can remind us more intensely of the paradises of childhood. Nothing is purer and more harmless than this eroticism of the body and the heart. Childish eroticism is not only full of delights, it is also necessary.” - Sexologist, Volkmar Sigusch.

"Experiencing ongoing sexual attractions to prepubescent children is, in essence, a form of sexual orientation, and acknowledging that reality can help to distinguish the mental makeup that is inherent to Pedophilia, from acts of child sexual abuse." - Sexologist, Fred Berlin.

External Links

• NVSH - Paedophilia.
• Famous Pedophiles - "Pedophiles" who contributed to society.
• Wikipedia - Describes Pedophilia as a mental disorder.
• Mapmedicalism - Collection of revisions to the diagostic criteria.