Is pedophilia a sexuality?

Well what defines a pedophile? Of course wanting to be with a girl that has not even started puberty is a pedophile and just plain sick but what if the girl has begun to develop? I know that in the U.S. having sex with a girl before the age of 13 is statutory rape which is life in prison but the ironic thing is 13 yrs old was the age a girl was ready to be married in historic European culture.

To answer your question, I would say that wanting to have sex with a girl that hasn't even begun puberty is a pedophile, it is not a sexuality, and anyone that thinks this way should probably be castrated.

Perhaps this can shed some light on the issue:

en.wikipedia.org...


Since it's called a sexual preference I suppose that's what it is. But it seems to me that there is a difference between practicing and wishful pedophiles. (Sounds really horrible I know, but I didn't find a better way to describe it.)

Those that act on their impulses probably suffer some sort of disorder or lack of inhibitions which normal people don't. I would imagine, though, that suffering from something deemed so morally reprehensible by society would twist even a sane person. Imagine walking around with nothing but forbidden thoughts, perhaps the urge becomes too strong eventually.

I'm just speculating though.

And as a previous poster mentioned; Were it to happen to my child I'd probably lose it and do something really terrible to whoever did it.

Originally posted by Techsnow
Well what defines a pedophile? Of course wanting to be with a girl that has not even started puberty is a pedophile and just plain sick but what if the girl has begun to develop? I know that in the U.S. having sex with a girl before the age of 13 is statutory rape which is life in prison but the ironic thing is 13 yrs old was the age a girl was ready to be married in historic European culture.

To answer your question, I would say that wanting to have sex with a girl that hasn't even begun puberty is a pedophile, it is not a sexuality, and anyone that thinks this way should probably be castrated.

Sexuality... :Concern with or interest in sexual activity.

So yes it would be a sexuality....do i get castrated?

ALL pedophiles need to be put to death. Period.

This thread is ridiculous.

In many places women get married at the age of 14-15 (not really far from where I reside, more like 50 km). In many cultures as well, both men and women are considered mature a lot earlier than the age of 18 or 21. That is the result of many factors and if you go back in time with average life-spans close to 30 years, waiting too long would damage humanity as species.

We set an age limit but what does it really imply? That 18 year olds in todays society are mature and capable enough of sustaining a family? Or, to counter point my self, an african girl that gains no significant social experience after the age of 14 due to very low living standards, is not mature enough and who are we to define this?

We are genetically programmed to feel attraction for young healthy females for reproductive reasons. I have met 16 year olds that rival "grown up" women in both bodily and mental maturity. If I see a 20 year old girl that looks and acts as a child I for sure won't feel attraction for her but I may feel it for a 16 year old, I ask you is attraction a choice?

Is the phenomenon of young teenagers looking, dressing and acting like grown ups limited to my country?

What is your definition of a pedophile? If I hear that someone had a sexual relation with a 15 year old, I will not hurry to draw my conclusions. It is easier than most think to be even tricked by a smart kid and pay up for the rest of your life. On the other hand, people that need to have sexual relationships with kids, that look like kids and act like kids are plainly sick. The OP is right though in the sense that they are no more sick, or abnormal, than many other people (e.g. gays) but it's the implications and results of expressing the sexuality that makes them so despised. I have a few gay friends and I like them just as much as everyone else, because they pose no threat to me or to the ones I love.

In my opinion pedophiles should be treated exactly as any other dangerously disordered person.

Peter

This is just another example of the reasoning that causes so many problems in todays society.
Seeking to understand and apologise for the heinous crimes the odious, evil people commit.

Sex crime of any kind is evil.

Peadophilia destroys the very people we should be nurturing and protecting and betrays one of the most basic trusts of mankind; that between child and adult.

No amount of analysing and understanding will ever excuse the actions of these despicable people.

I suggest some people spare a little more compassion and understanding for the victims of these crimes rather than the evil, scum bastards who commit them!

See, the main problem is the culture you grew up in. Where you live, North America, it's "not normal" to do certain things that are acceptable in other countries. Does that make YOUR particular beliefs and practices wrong or morally incorrect? No. Maybe in your overall society that you reside in, but definately not in the overall picture of the world.

Personal beliefs aside, whether you are a pedophile or not, whether you agree with pedophilia or not, the fact is that the location you grew up in and live in currently is what shaped those beliefs.

If you grew up in a culture overseas, where it was considered acceptable to do this kind of thing (there are countries where children are married off legally to adults, for CENTURIES), or other things (like smoking pot for example), then there is a strong chance that your morals will be shaped around the same morals you were exposed to and grew up being influenced by all your life.

I'm not arguing for or against pedophiles, nor am i saying what they do is right (raping a child is obviously wrong). My point is that people who live in a culture where it's considered wrong need to realise this. It's not their country, it's not their belief or practice, and it's definately not up to them to decide what's right or wrong for someone in another place of the world. It's not my cup of tea to have sex with a child, and I definately scorn anyone that does it, and in no way do I think it's an ok thing to do. But these other factors definately have to be taken into account.

Thank you society ethics class

Good Topic.

I have to say that I think Pedophilia (and Zoophilia) are legitimate sexual orientations...if we are to believe that Homosexuality is as well. All are deviations from the most natural form of sexuality which exists to propogate the species. Anything else is biologically (not socially) deviant.

Pedophiles are only sexually attracted to children. Zoophiles are only attracted to animals. Homosexuals are only attracted to members of the same sex. None of these people is attracted to a person who will keep the species alive with the act of their congress.

If Zoophiles and Pedophiles are just sexual deviants then I believe we must view Homosexuality in the same way. If Homosexuality is a legitimate sexual orientation then so are Zoophilia and Pedophilia.

Originally posted by Freeborn
This is just another example of the reasoning that causes so many problems in todays society.
Seeking to understand and apologise for the heinous crimes the odious, evil people commit.

Sex crime of any kind is evil.

Peadophilia destroys the very people we should be nurturing and protecting and betrays one of the most basic trusts of mankind; that between child and adult.

No amount of analysing and understanding will ever excuse the actions of these despicable people.

I suggest some people spare a little more compassion and understanding for the victims of these crimes rather than the evil, scum bastards who commit them!

*Sigh*

So you read the title of this topic and posted without reading the OP or even the responses I suppose?

I am NOT analyzing the ACT of molestation. Not in the least. I am analyzing WHY one would be like this. The ONLY way that one could have these feelings, in my opinion, is through natural, innate causes. Otherwise, they are just horrible, evil people.. Demons even. But the more I see news being reported on this phenomenon, the more I see people who are truly haunted by their DISEASE and would rather die than perform a sexually deviant act against a young person.

So, again, what we are discussing is the nature of human sexuality, in broader terms. I am sorry, but I am beginning to believe that this really is either a sexuality or a disorder. Take ALL the moralities out of the equation (consider if a child could consent, as hard as that is to digest), and it is just as natural as homosexuality, transexuality, heterosexuality, etc.

Maybe there's a cure and we just hate these people too much to find one for them?

Hiyah Santa

How have you been?

What a thread my friend! Well...it is an actual mental disorder as others have mentioned, and it's in the DSM IV, and it's under "Sexual and Gender Disorders."

[These are divided in DSM into (1) Sexual Dysfunctions (2) Paraphilias (3) Gender Identity Disorders and (4) Sexual Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Pedophilia is classed as a Paraphilia, of which DSM says: "The Paraphilias are characterized by recurrent, intense, sexual urges, fantasies, or behaviors that involve unusual objects, activities, or situations and cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The Paraphilias include Exhibitionism, Fetishism, Frotteurism, Pedophilia, Sexual Masochism, Sexual Sadism, Transvestic Fetishism, Voyeurism, and Paraphilia Not Otherwise Specified."]

p571-2:
302.2 Pedophilia

The paraphilic focus of Pedophilia involves sexual activity with a prepubescent child (generally age 13 years or younger).

The individual with Pedophilia must be age 16 years or older and at least 5 years older than the child. For individuals in late adolescence with Pedophilia, no precise age difference is specified, and clinical judgment must be used; both the sexual maturity of the child and the age difference must be taken into account.

Individuals with Pedophilia generally report an attraction to children of a particular age range. Some individuals prefer males, others females, and some are aroused by both males and females. Those attracted to females usually prefer 8- to 10-year-olds, whereas those attracted to males usually prefer slightly older children. Pedophilia involving female victims is reported more often than Pedophilia involving male victims.

Some individuals with Pedophilia are sexually attracted only to children (Exclusive Type), whereas others are sometimes attracted to adults (Nonexclusive Type.)

The rest gets quite graphic so I will spare those who are already getting queasy, I know I am. The rest of the information can be found at the link below. BEWARE IT IS QUITE GRAPHIC.

www.helping-people.info...

Most of the psychological and psychiatric studies I have read about pedophilia agree, it's pretty much like personality disorders, almost impossible to cure even through prolonged therapy. Anti-Social personality disorder (sociopaths) Borderlines, etc cannot be cured as with most personality disorders.

Therefore the question is, if we know these people cannot be cured, we need to come at the problem with a different solution then just jailing them for a few years. I say this all the time when I am talking with others about the subject when it comes up...these people will NEVER stop, they can't stop, as Santa said, they BEG to be castrated. some don't bother to hide the fact that they can't stop. So what's to be done is the most important question.

Only when society wakes up to this fact and takes a cold hard look at it instead of shirking it off, being squeamish and sticking their heads in the sand, only then will we finally realize these people have to be legally segregated somehow from children, never to come into contact with them EVER.

There are laws in a few states that allow pedophiles to be held indefinitely, AFTER their incarceration is over, if they are deemed still a high level risk to children. How this is constitutional is beyond me but it should be a federal mandate!

To answer your debate, are they born with this predilection, or does it stem from an environment where they themselves were molested, I don't know. There are millions and millions of people in this country and other countries obviously that were molested who do not, in turn, molest other children and never have the desire for children sexually. If it were actually just do to with environment though, I would imagine it could be "corrected or cured" and the studies show it can't be, which leads me to believe that some are just born with this.

[edit on 27-8-2008 by LateApexer313]

reply to post by LateApexer313


Wow, that article was equally informative as it was disturbing. It makes much more sense that those who act on these impulses are sociopaths, that they just don't care how ANYONE feels. No remorse for anything.

However, where does that leave the people who are proactive about their illness. The article states that only those who act on the impulse are pedophiles. What about those who avoid the contact, but still want it? I need to find that article on that guy who said he had fought his urges for all his life based on the fact that he didn't want to ruin a child.....

Good to see you LA! Long time my friend!

reply to post by SantaClaus


Yes it's scary as heck isn't it? There's a convicted pedophile I can't think of his name, he's been on Oprah, and other talk shows, Dr. Phil etc he will do any show and talk candidly about his predilections etc.

He says he was born with it, and that he at most times can control it and has throughout his life...he did serve time though and went through therapy during his incarceration...but when he got out, he moved into a large apartment building, I forget what city it was, but a big city in the U.S. and he took it upon himself to send a letter to every single person living in the building, telling them all what he'd done, that it was his sexual preference etc...and that if any of them had kids, to please keep their kids away from him, and to "help" him resist by turning him in to the police the second any of them saw him talking to kids, looking at kids etc...and he goes on to say how he has to live his life basically like a hardcore drug addict or alcoholic would and he says the urge is as strong as he imagines heroin addicts experience etc.

Great to see you as well

[edit on 27-8-2008 by LateApexer313]

reply to post by LateApexer313



And that's the reason I started this thread. Perfect example.

This guy is an addict. He is being proactive. He is doing whatever he can to stop himself. How can you not feel bad for this guy? Its got to be an almost unlivable existence.

I suppose most would just say put him to death, as there doesn't seem to be any way to treat him, but I have to think that if sexual perversion was studied enough we would be closer to treatment.

Originally posted by mattguy404
No.

Sexual relationships are between a man and a woman, a man and a man, or a woman and a woman.

Not in any way shape or form is an attraction to children a 'sexuality' - I'm not saying pedophiles don't need help, they certainly do, and it's worrying how society deals with this problem, but it's not a sexuality; it's an illness.

I think you mention yourself it's a disorder, and I don't think we can go so far as to call it anything else.

[edit on 21-8-2008 by mattguy404]

Wrong... It IS a sexuality, just like necrophelia and bestiphelia. But, it is not protected, because it's not with a "consenting" adult, which defines the protected sexual activities.

My 2c,

reply to post by SantaClaus


I read the OP Santa and fully understand the reasoning behind the thread.

I just honestly feel we spend too much time and effort in uderstanding the perpetrators of these acts and offer far too little care and attention to the victims.

Sex crime, of any kind is evil and odious but paedophilia is particularly despicable and as a result any discussion can spark emotive responses.

If we are ever to eliminate this crime from society then yes, we do need to understand better the causations.
I suspect there maybe several contributory factors which vary from individual to individual ranging from inherent sexuality, a need to control, the need to do something taboo, genuine illness and mental disorde etc.

I am not a very good amateur pyschologist but I do try my best to understand, but it can be hard on such a topic where emotions and opinions run deep.

And for fear of being a bore and repeating myself, I genuinely feel we should make more time and effort in helping the victims recover from their ordeals, (and ensure they themselves inturn do not abuse, as unfortunately a large percentage of abusers were abused themselves as children).

I believe it is a genetic behaviour and has been around since the caveman days.
Its like salmon swimming up stream or birds flying south in the winter,
its not a learned behavior.
Pheromones put off by the human body at sexual maturity would have been The driving factor before the 1700s this is why in most cultures the marriage age was around 13 years old.
This by cultural mores took the child out of circulation and and hid the evidence of pedophilia. (pregnancy)
In younger children it was keep hidden by cultural mores. or because there were no family to protect the children they were not believed.
(no evidence no crime)

Before the 1700s very little was written about pedophilia because the church and society keep it hidden but it was much more common then today.
only in the last 50 years has it come out in the open and laws been made against it. (when it could be proved it happened ?)

is this a excuse for pedophilia
no its just why it happens.


[edit on 15-9-2008 by ANNED]

[edit on 15-9-2008 by ANNED]

I remember hearing an anecdote a few years ago. It went something like this:


A 40 year old man 'fancied' a 10 year old girl. The girl was horrified at hearing this, and said, "But you are four times older than me!"


To which the man replied,

"Yes, but in 5 year's time, I will be 45 and you will be 15, so I will only be THREE times older than you.............what's more, in another 15 years after that, I will be 60 and you will be 30...........so I will only be TWICE as old as you."

I found it funny

Hurting children should be punishable by death. Plain and simple. But, and like my ex girlfriend, its a big but (sorry) at what age do you consider a child begins to become an adult?
If you watch St Trinians are you a paedophile? Most hardcore porn films have their female stars look as young as they possibly can, some even dressing in school uniforms and wearing their hair in pigtails. If you watch such a film are you a paedophile? Can it really be the case that a fifteen year old boy or girl the day before thier sixteenth birthday, is classed as a child but the following day suddenly find themselves thrown headlong into adulthood?
Unfortunately some people grow up and mature quicker than others! I would scrap the age of consent and strengthen the rape laws.

I think the variations in maturity are why the DSM-IV definition quoted above is so specific in its requirements. The attraction must be to prepubescent children; the pedophile must be 16, etc. In other words, being attracted to a physically mature 15-year-old is not pedophilia even if you're 60; similarly, being attracted to an 11-year-old if you're 12 is not pedophilia. Acting on such an attraction, if you are 60 and the object of your desire is 15, is statutory rape and is a crime.

I think the OP raises such an important question, and actually one that I've thought about before. We tend to mix together having a desire and acting on that desire (maybe because as a society we have become so addicted to instant gratification). But by doing so I think we lose track of the one point at which pedophiliac acts could best be prevented.

By demonizing pedophilia completely (the urge, not just the act) I think we make it difficult for people who feel that urge to admit to it (even to themselves most likely), seek help for it, and get positive reinforcement for seeking help.

Through family friends I know of one psychiatrist who has studied this subject -- I'm sure there are more out there. But I can't imagine that it's a particularly well-funded or popular specialty. After all, in the system as it is now, these people (men and women -- women can be pedophiles also!) don't come to the attention of authorities or of the mental health system until they have already committed atrocious, unforgivable acts.

I believe it is an abnormalty in the brain that makes people pedophiles. I believe it is the same as being gay, bisexual or into animals. These all have something to do with a brain malfunction that if studied properly, can be treatable. Most people with these feelings..ie...gay, bisexual, animal lovers...will tell you not to put them in the same category as pedophiles. Why not?......they feel an abnormal love that we as "normal people" cannot even begin to comprehend. Perhaps it's nature's way of keeping the population down. I too find the pedophile popualtion to be disgusting, but if you ask them why...you most liklely will get a familiar answer to this question that you would get if you asked a gay person.