Pedophilia

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Martin Van Maele - La Grande Danse macabre des vifs - 32

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Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Although girls typically begin the process of puberty at age 10 or 11, and boys at age 11 or 12, criteria for pedophilia extend the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13. A person must be at least 16 years old, and at least five years older than the prepubescent child, for the attraction to be diagnosed as pedophilia.

Definition

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines pedophilia as a paraphilia in which adults or adolescents 16 years of age or older have intense and recurrent sexual urges towards and fantasies about prepubescent children that they have either acted on or which cause them distress or interpersonal difficulty. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) defines it as a sexual preference for children of prepubertal or early pubertal age.

Signs and Symptoms

Some pedophiles do not molest children, while others do. Indicators of pedophilia in a person are often subtle and more likely to be noticed by a professional trained in the area of sexual health. Some signs might include a person who spends an unusual amount of time with children, has a high number of photographs of children, or frequently finds ways to be alone with children.

Causes

The exact causes of pedophilia have not been conclusively established. Some theories suggest that individuals with pedophilia have suffered from childhood sexual abuse themselves, but evidence is inconclusive. Other theories suggest a biological basis, such as brain injury or dysfunction.

Treatment

Treatment for pedophilia often involves a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and chemical castration are among the treatments used for pedophiles.

Legal Aspects

In many jurisdictions, sexual activity with a person below the age of consent, or with a person incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental handicap, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception, is considered to be rape or sexual assault.

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