View source for User:USER4/DRAFT/Pedophile Wikipedia article criticism

This is a criticism of the current Wikipedia article on "Pedophilia". Critical notes are indicated by indented commentary following the word "CRITICISM:" in the text below.

'''Pedophilia''' or '''paedophilia''' is a {{w|mental disorder| psychiatric disorder}} in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive {{w|sexual attraction}} to prepubescent children, generally age 11 years or younger.<ref name="DSM 5">{{Cite web| title = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition|publisher = [[American Psychiatric Association|American Psychiatric Publishing]]|url=http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/book.aspx?bookid=556|year=2013|accessdate=July 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name=ICD-10>See section F65.4 Paedophilia. {{Cite web |title=The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders Diagnostic criteria for research World|publisher=[[World Health Organization]]/[[ICD-10]]|year=1993|accessdate=2012-10-10|url=http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/GRNBOOK.pdf|quote=B. A persistent or a predominant preference for [[child sexual abuse|sexual activity]] with a prepubescent child or children. C. The person is at least 16 years old and at least five years older than the child or children in B.}}</ref> As a medical [[diagnosis]], specific criteria for the disorder extend the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13.<ref name="DSM 5" /> A person who is diagnosed with pedophilia must be at least 16 years of age, but adolescents must be at least five years older than the prepubescent child for the attraction to be diagnosed as pedophilia.<ref name="DSM 5"/><ref name=ICD-10/>

:CRITICISM: The above accepts, without any argument, that sexual activity is rightfully something which belongs within the sphere of psychiatric study -- in other words, that certain "''doctors''" are somehow qualified to pass judgement on the sexual behavior of ''other'' humans, and to consider their sexual behavior to be some kind of "medical problem". No confirmation or proof is offered that psychiatrists actually ''do'' have any "right" to [medicalization|medicalize] the study of human sexuality. Psychiatrists, for the most part, deal in ''unproven'' (and ''unprovable'') {{w|theories}} on the origins and meanings of human behavior. No mention is made within this Wikipedia article on Pedophilia of the fact that the validity of "psychiatric" diagnoses in general are disputed (this ''is'' mentioned in the Wikipedia article on {{w|psychiatry}}.

:Almost nothing is ''actually'' well-understood about human sexuality -- it has not been determined experimentally "what causes heterosexuality", nor is there a definition of "heterosexuality" that withstands a rigorous scientific examination. "Sexual normality" is not something which has been confirmed through empirical scientific studies, but, instead, is based on "moral judgements" -- which differ from culture to culture.

Pedophilia is termed ''pedophilic disorder'' in the ''[[Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders]]'' ([[DSM-5]]), and the manual defines it as a [[paraphilia]] in which adults or adolescents 16 years of age or older have intense and recurrent sexual urges towards and [[fantasy (psychology)|fantasies]] about prepubescent children that they have either acted on or which cause them distress or [[Interpersonal relationship|interpersonal]] difficulty.<ref name="DSM 5"/> The [[International Classification of Diseases]] ([[ICD-10]]) defines it as a sexual preference for children of prepubertal or early [[Puberty|pubertal]] age.<ref name="WHOPaedophilia">See section F65.4 Paedophilia. {{Cite web|title=International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) Version for 2010|publisher=[[ICD-10]]|accessdate=November 17, 2012|url=http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2010/en#/F65.4}}</ref> 

In popular usage, the word ''pedophilia'' is often applied to any sexual interest in children or the act of [[child sexual abuse]].<ref name="setovii">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= vii}}</ref><ref name=faganJAMA/> This use conflates the sexual attraction (pedophilia) with the act of abuse (child molestation), and does not distinguish between attraction to prepubescent and pubescent or post-pubescent [[Minor (law)|minors]].<ref name=ames>{{cite journal | author = Ames MA, Houston DA | title = Legal, social, and biological definitions of pedophilia | journal = Arch Sex Behav | volume = 19 | issue = 4 | pages = 333–42 | date = August 1990 | pmid = 2205170 | doi = 10.1007/BF01541928 }}</ref><ref name=lanning3e/>  Researchers recommend that these imprecise uses be avoided because although people who commit child sexual abuse sometimes exhibit the disorder,<ref name=faganJAMA/><ref name=mayoclinic>{{cite journal | author = Hall RC, Hall RC | title = A profile of pedophilia: definition, characteristics of offenders, recidivism, treatment outcomes, and forensic issues | journal = Mayo Clin. Proc. | volume = 82 | issue = 4 | pages = 457–71 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17418075 | doi = 10.4065/82.4.457 | url = }}</ref> many child sexual abuse offenders are not pedophiles,<ref name="ames"/><ref name=Oxford>{{Cite book| last1 = Blaney | first1 = Paul H. | last2 = Millon | first2 = Theodore | title = Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology (Oxford Series in Clinical Psychology) |edition= 2nd | year= 2009  | publisher = Oxford University Press, USA | quote = Some cases of child molestation, especially those involving incest, are committed in the absence of any identifiable deviant erotic age preference.| isbn = 0-19-537421-5 | pages = 528}}</ref><ref name="Edwards">Edwards, M. (1997) "Treatment for Paedophiles; Treatment for Sex Offenders". ''Paedophile Policy and Prevention, Australian Institute of Criminology Research and Public Policy Series'' (12), 74-75.</ref> and not all pedophiles molest children.<ref name="setovii" /><ref name=faganJAMA/><ref name="feelgood">{{cite journal | author = Feelgood S, Hoyer J | year = 2008 | title = Child molester or paedophile? Sociolegal versus psychopathological classification of sexual offenders against children | journal = Journal of Sexual Aggression | volume = 14 | issue = 1 | pages = 33–43 | doi=10.1080/13552600802133860}}</ref><ref name=SetoReview>Seto MC. (2009) [http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.032408.153618 Pedophilia]. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology 5:391–407.</ref>

:CRITICISM: "In popular usage, the word ''pedophilia'' is often applied to any sexual interest in children..." The definition of "child" is controversial. There are biological definitions ("person who has not yet reached puberty", legal definitions (which vary widely by age and culture), religious definitions ("a young person who has not yet celebrated the rite of passage from childhood to adulthood"), as well as other definitions. The statement, "...the word ''pedophilia'' is often applied..." should, correctly, be "..the word ''pedophilia'' is often ''wrongly/mistakenly''applied...". It should be emphasized that "pedophilia" -- if it is to be accepted as a "diagnosis" -- applies ''only to attraction to pre-pubescent young people''!

Pedophilia was first formally recognized and named in the late 19th century. A significant amount of research in the area has taken place since the 1980s. Although mostly documented in men, there are also women who exhibit the disorder,<ref name="setowomen">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|pages= 72–74}}</ref><ref name=genpsych>{{Cite book|title=Review of General Psychiatry |first=Howard H. |last=Goldman|year=2000|publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional Psychiatry |isbn=0-8385-8434-9 |page=374}}</ref> and researchers assume available estimates underrepresent the true number of female pedophiles.<ref name="psychiatrictimes.com">{{cite web|author=Lisa J. Cohen, PhD and [[Igor Galynker]], MD, PhD|title=Psychopathology and Personality Traits of Pedophiles |publisher=''[[Psychiatric Times]]'' |date= June 8, 2009|accessdate=March 7, 2014 |url=http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/psychopathology-and-personality-traits-pedophiles}}</ref> No cure for pedophilia has been developed, but there are therapies that can reduce the incidence of a person committing child sexual abuse.<ref name=faganJAMA/><ref name=fullerJAMA/> In the United States, following ''[[Kansas v. Hendricks]]'', sex offenders who are diagnosed with certain mental disorders, particularly pedophilia, can be subject to indefinite [[civil commitment]].<ref name="setocivil">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= xii, 186}}</ref> The exact causes of pedophilia have not been conclusively established.<ref name="setocause">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= 101}}</ref> Some studies of pedophilia in child sex offenders have correlated it with various neurological abnormalities and psychological pathologies.<ref name="setocomorbidity">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Sexual Deviance: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment, 2nd edition |publisher= The Guilford Press|page= 168|chapter= Pedophilia: Psychopathology and Theory|editor1-last= Laws |editor1-first= D. Richard}}</ref>

:CRITICISM: "Pedophilia was first formally recognized and named..." This is a misleading statement. Adults and young people have engaged in sexual activity for as long as human adults and young people have existed. The statement should be, ""The existence of adult/young person sexual activity was first alleged to be a "medical problem" (though this classification is disputed) when it was formally recognized and named..."

CRITICISM STILL TO BE CONTINUED FROM THIS POINT IN THE ARTICLE...

==Etymology and definitions==
The word comes from the {{lang-el|παῖς, παιδός}} (''paîs, paidós''), meaning "child", and φιλία (''[[Philia|philía]]''), "friendly love" or "friendship".<ref name="Liddell, H.G. 1959">Liddell, H.G., and Scott, Robert (1959). ''Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon''. ISBN 0-19-910206-6.</ref> As ''pedophilia'' denotes sexual attraction, the term's literal Greek meaning is not employed by medical authorities; further, the terms ''child love'' and ''child lover'' are used by pedophiles both as a form of [[Minimisation (psychology)|minimization]] and as part of symbols and codes to identify their sexual preferences toward prepubescent children.<ref name="slate.com">FBI's January 2007 "intelligence bulletin" on "symbols and logos used by pedophiles to identify sexual preferences". The document (see pages 2–4), was prepared and distributed to FBI divisions and field offices in 2007 by the Cyber Division's Innocent Images National Initiative. {{cite web|first=Bonnie|last=Goldstein |title=The Pedophile's Secret Code |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=2007-12-03|accessdate=2011-01-01|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2179052/entry/2179054/}}</ref><ref name="Philbin">{{cite book|title =The Killer Book of True Crime: Incredible Stories, Facts and Trivia from the World of Murder and Mayhem|isbn = 1-4022-0829-4|publisher=[[Sourcebooks]], Inc. |year=2007 |page=175 |accessdate=2011-01-01 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=V1BaLv_0AaAC&pg=PA175&dq=Pedophilia+%22child+love%22#v=onepage&q&f=false | author =Tom Philbin, Michael Philbin}}</ref>

''Pedophilia'' is used for individuals with a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children aged 13 or younger.<ref name="DSM 5"/><ref name=ICD-10/> ''Nepiophilia'' (from the {{lang-el|νήπιος}} (''népios'') meaning "infant" or "child," which in turn derives from "ne-" and "epos" meaning "not speaking"), sometimes called "''infantophilia''" is sub-type of pedophilia,<ref name=mayoclinic/> but is used to refer to a sexual preference for [[infant]]s and [[toddler]]s (ages 0–3 or those under age 5).<ref name=mayoclinic/><ref>{{Cite book|title=Sexual Deviance: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment  |last= Laws|first= D. Richard |author2=William T. O'Donohue |year=2008 |publisher=Guilford Press |isbn= 1-59385-605-9 |page=176}}</ref> ''[[Hebephilia]]'' is defined as individuals with a primary or exclusive sexual interest in 11-14 year old pubescents.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Blanchard R, Lykins AD, Wherrett D, Kuban ME, Cantor JM, Blak T, Dickey R, Klassen PE | title = Pedophilia, hebephilia, and the DSM-V | journal = Arch Sex Behav | volume = 38 | issue = 3 | pages = 335–50 | date = June 2009 | pmid = 18686026 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-008-9399-9 }}</ref> The DSM-5 does not list hebephilia among the diagnoses; while evidence suggests that hebephilia is separate from pedophilia, the ICD-10 includes early pubertal age (an aspect of hebephilia) in its pedophilia definition, covering the physical development overlap between the two philias.<ref name=SetoReview/> In addition to ''hebephilia'', some clinicians have proposed other categories that are somewhat or completely distinguished from pedophilia; these include ''pedohebephilia'' (a combination of pedophilia and hebephilia) and ''[[ephebophilia]]'' (though ephebophilia is not considered pathological).<ref name="dsm5.org">[http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevision/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=186# APA DSM-5 | U 03 Pedophilic Disorder]</ref><ref name="www.usccb.org">{{Cite web|first=Frederick|last=S. Berlin|title=Interview with Frederick S.  Berlin, M.D., Ph.D| publisher=Office of Media Relations  |accessdate=2008-06-27|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110623130406/http://www.usccb.org/comm/kit6.shtml}}</ref>

===History===
Like many psychiatric disorders, pedophilia is believed to have occurred in humans throughout history, but was not formally named, defined or studied until the late 19th century.  The term '''''paedophilia erotica''''' was coined in 1886 by the [[Vienna|Viennese]] psychiatrist [[Richard von Krafft-Ebing]] in his writing ''[[Psychopathia Sexualis]]''.<ref name=Krafft-Ebing>{{Cite book| last1 = Von Krafft-Ebing | first1 = Richard |others= Translated to English by Francis Joseph Rebman| title = Psychopathia Sexualis | year = 1922 | publisher = Medical Art Agency | location = | pages = 552–560| isbn = 1-871592-55-0 }}</ref> The term appears in a section titled "Violation of Individuals Under the Age of Fourteen", which focuses on the [[forensic psychiatry]] aspect of [[Child sexual abuse#Offenders|child sexual offenders]] in general.  Krafft-Ebing describes several typologies of offender, dividing them into [[psychopathology|psychopathological]] and non-psychopathological origins, and hypothesizes several apparent causal factors that may lead to the sexual abuse of children.<ref name=Krafft-Ebing/>

Krafft-Ebing mentioned ''paedophilia erotica'' in a typology of "psycho-sexual perversion". He wrote that he had only encountered it four times in his career and gave brief descriptions of each case, listing three common traits:
# The individual is tainted [by heredity] (''hereditär belastete'')<ref name="Roudinesco">Roudinesco, Élisabeth (2009). ''Our dark side: a history of perversion,'' [http://books.google.com/books?id=W3ejX6C_qfwC&pg=PA144#v=onepage&q&f=false p. 144.] Polity, ISBN 978-0-7456-4593-3</ref>
# The subject's primary attraction is to children, rather than adults.
# The acts committed by the subject are typically not intercourse, but rather involve inappropriate touching or manipulating the child into performing an act on the subject.

He mentions several cases of pedophilia among adult women (provided by another physician), and also considered the [[homosexuality and pedophilia|abuse of boys by homosexual men]] to be extremely rare.<ref name=Krafft-Ebing/> Further clarifying this point, he indicated that cases of adult men who have some medical or [[neurology|neurological]] disorder and abuse a male child are not true pedophilia and that, in his observation, victims of such men tended to be older and pubescent.  He also lists ''pseudopaedophilia'' as a related condition wherein "individuals who have lost [[libido]] for the adult through masturbation and subsequently turn to children for the gratification of their sexual appetite" and claimed this is much more common.<ref name=Krafft-Ebing/>

Austrian neurologist [[Sigmund Freud]] briefly wrote about the topic in his 1905 book ''[[Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality]]'' in a section titled ''The Sexually immature and Animals as Sexual objects.'' He wrote that exclusive pedophilia was rare and only occasionally were prepubescent children exclusive objects. He wrote that they usually were the subject of desire when a weak person "makes use of such substitutes" or when an uncontrollable instinct which will not allow delay seeks immediate gratification and cannot find a more appropriate object.<ref>Freud, Sigmund Three Contributions to the Theory of Sex Mobi Classics pages 18-20</ref>

In 1908, [[Swiss people|Swiss]] [[neuroanatomy|neuroanatomist]] and psychiatrist [[Auguste Forel]] wrote of the phenomenon, proposing that it be referred to it as "Pederosis", the "Sexual Appetite for Children".  Similar to Krafft-Ebing's work, Forel made the distinction between incidental sexual abuse by persons with [[dementia]] and other organic brain conditions, and the truly preferential and sometimes exclusive sexual desire for children.  However, he disagreed with Krafft-Ebing in that he felt the condition of the latter was largely ingrained and unchangeable.<ref name=Forel>{{Cite book| last1 = Forel  |  first1 = Auguste |others= Translated to English by C.F. Marshall, MD| title = The Sexual Question: A scientific, psychological, hygienic and sociological study for the cultured classes | year = 1908  |  publisher = Rebman | location = | pages = 254–255 }}</ref>

The term ''pedophilia'' became the generally accepted term for the condition and saw widespread adoption in the early 20th century, appearing in many popular [[Medical dictionary|medical dictionaries]] such as the 5th Edition of ''Stedman's'' in 1918. In 1952, it was included in the first edition of the ''[[Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Diagnostic  and statistical manual of mental disorders |author=  American Psychiatric Association Committee on Nomenclature and  Statistics |year=1952 |edition= 1st|publisher=The Association |location=Washington,  D.C |page=39 }}</ref> This edition and the subsequent DSM-II listed the disorder as one subtype of the classification "Sexual Deviation", but no diagnostic criteria were provided. The DSM-III, published in 1980, contained a full description of the disorder and provided a set of guidelines for diagnosis.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Diagnostic   and statistical manual of mental disorders |author=  American Psychiatric Association: Committee on Nomenclature and  Statistics |year=1980 |edition= 3rd|publisher=American Psychiatric Association |location=Washington, D.C |page=271}}</ref>  The revision in 1987, the DSM-III-R, kept the description largely the same, but updated and expanded the diagnostic criteria.<ref>{{Cite book| title = Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-III-R | year = 1987 | publisher = American Psychiatric Association | location = Washington, DC  | isbn = 0-89042-018-1 | pages =  }}</ref>

===Diagnostic criteria===

====DSM and ICD-10====
The ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'' 5th edition (DSM-5) has a significantly larger diagnostic features section for pedophilia than the previous DSM version, the [[DSM-IV-TR]], and states, "The diagnostic criteria for pedophilic disorder are intended to apply both to individuals who freely disclose this paraphilia and to individuals who deny any sexual attraction to prepubertal children (generally age 13 years or younger), despite substantial objective evidence to the contrary."<ref name="DSM 5"/> Like the DSM-IV-TR, the manual outlines specific criteria for use in the diagnosis of this disorder. These include the presence of sexually arousing fantasies, behaviors or urges that involve some kind of sexual activity with a prepubescent child (with the diagnostic criteria for the disorder extending the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13) for six months or more, or that the subject has acted on these urges or suffers from distress as a result of having these feelings. The criteria also indicate that the subject should be 16 or older and that the child or children they fantasize about are at least five years younger than them, though ongoing sexual relationships between a 12–13 year old and a late adolescent are advised to be excluded. A diagnosis is further specified by the sex of the children the person is attracted to, if the impulses or acts are limited to [[incest]], and if the attraction is "exclusive" or "nonexclusive".<ref name="DSM 5"/>

The [[ICD-10]] defines pedophilia as "a sexual preference for children, boys or girls or both, usually of prepubertal or early pubertal age".<ref name="WHOPaedophilia"/> Like the DSM, this system's criteria requires that the person be at least 16 years of age or older before being diagnosed as a pedophile. The person must also have a persistent or predominant sexual preference for prepubescent children at least five years younger than them.<ref name=ICD-10/>

Several terms have been used to distinguish "true pedophiles" from non-pedophilic and non-exclusive offenders, or to distinguish among types of offenders on a continuum according to strength and exclusivity of pedophilic interest, and motivation for the offense (see [[Child sexual abuse#Offenders|child sexual offender types]]). Exclusive pedophiles are sometimes referred to as ''true pedophiles.'' They are sexually attracted to prepubescent children, and prepubescent children only. Showing no erotic interest in adults, they can only become sexually aroused while fantasizing about or being in the presence of prepubescent children, or both.<ref name=psychiatrictimes.com/> Non-exclusive offenders—or "non-exclusive pedophiles"—may at times be referred to as ''non-pedophilic'' offenders, but the two terms are not always synonymous. Non-exclusive offenders are sexually attracted to both children and adults, and can be sexually aroused by both, though a sexual preference for one over the other in this case may also exist. If the attraction is a sexual preference for prepubescent children, such offenders are considered pedophiles in the same vein as exclusive offenders.<ref name="WHOPaedophilia"/><ref name=psychiatrictimes.com/>

Neither the DSM nor the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria require actual sexual activity with a prepubescent youth. The diagnosis can therefore be made based on the presence of fantasies or sexual urges even if they have never been acted upon. On the other hand, a person who acts upon these urges yet experiences no distress about their fantasies or urges can also qualify for the diagnosis. ''Acting'' on sexual urges is not limited to overt sex acts for purposes of this diagnosis, and can sometimes include [[indecent exposure]], [[voyeurism|voyeuristic]] or [[frotteurism|frotteuristic]] behaviors,<ref name="DSM 5"/> or masturbating to [[child pornography]].<ref name="setocp">{{cite journal | author = Seto MC, Cantor JM, Blanchard R | title = Child pornography offenses are a valid diagnostic indicator of pedophilia | journal = J Abnorm Psychol | volume = 115 | issue = 3 | pages = 610–5 | date = August 2006 | pmid = 16866601 | doi = 10.1037/0021-843X.115.3.610 | quote = The results suggest child pornography offending is a stronger diagnostic indicator of pedophilia than is sexually offending against child victims }}</ref> Often, these behaviors need to be considered in-context with an element of clinical judgment before a diagnosis is made. Likewise, when the patient is in late adolescence, the age difference is not specified in hard numbers and instead requires careful consideration of the situation.<ref name=DSMmedem>[http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZUZRUZGLC&sub_cat=355 ''Pedophilia''] DSM at the Medem Online Medical Library</ref>

[[Ego-dystonic sexual orientation]] ({{ICD10|F|66|1|f|60}}) includes people who acknowledge that they have a sexual preference for prepubertal children, but wish to change it due to the associated psychological or behavioral problems (or both).

====Debate regarding the DSM criteria====
The DSM-IV-TR criteria was criticized simultaneously for being over-inclusive, as well as under-inclusive.<ref name=Studer>{{cite journal | author = Studer LH, Aylwin AS | title = Pedophilia: The problem with diagnosis and limitations of CBT in treatment | journal = Medical Hypotheses | volume = 67 | issue = 4 | pages = 774–781 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16766133 | doi = 10.1016/j.mehy.2006.04.030 | url =  }}</ref> Though most researchers distinguish between child molesters and pedophiles,<ref name=Oxford/><ref name="Edwards"/><ref name=SetoReview/><ref name=Studer/> Studer and Aylwin argue that the DSM criteria are over-inclusive because all acts of child molestation warrant the diagnosis. A child molester satisfies criteria A because of the behavior involving sexual activity with prepubescent children and criteria B because the individual has acted on those urges.<ref name=Studer/> Furthermore, they argue that it also is under-inclusive in the case of individuals who do not act upon it and are not distressed by it.<ref name=Studer/> The latter point has also been made by several other researchers who have remarked that a so-called "contented pedophile"—an individual who fantasizes about having sex with a child and masturbates to these fantasies, but does not commit child sexual abuse, and who does not feel subjectively distressed afterward—does not meet the DSM-IV-TR criteria for pedophilia, because this person does not meet Criterion B.<ref name=SetoReview/><ref>{{cite journal | author = O'Donohue W, Regev LG, Hagstrom A | title = Problems with the DSM-IV diagnosis of pedophilia | journal = Sex Abuse | volume = 12 | issue = 2 | pages = 95–105 | year = 2000| pmid = 10872239 | doi = 10.1023/A:1009586023326 }}</ref><ref name="greenpedo">{{cite journal | author = Green R | year = 2002 | title = Is pedophilia a mental disorder? | url = http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/BIB/pedophilia.htm | journal = [[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] | volume = 31 | issue = | page = 2002 }}</ref><ref name=DiagnosticCompare>{{cite journal | author = Moulden HM, Firestone P, Kingston D, Bradford J | year = 2009 | title = Recidivism in pedophiles: an investigation using different diagnostic methods | journal = Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology | volume = 20 | issue = 5 | pages = 680–701 | doi=10.1080/14789940903174055}}</ref> A large-scale survey about usage of different classification systems showed that the DSM classification is only rarely used. As an explanation, it was suggested that the under-inclusiveness, as well as a lack of validity, reliability and clarity might have led to the rejection of the DSM classification.<ref name="feelgood"/>

[[Ray Blanchard]], an [[Canadians of American origin|American-Canadian]] [[Sexology|sexologist]] known for his research studies on pedophilia, addressed (in his literature review for the DSM-5) the aforementioned objections to the DSM-IV-TR, and proposed a general solution applicable to all paraphilias. This meant namely a distinction between ''paraphilia'' and ''paraphilic disorder''. The latter term is proposed to identify the diagnosable mental disorder which meets Criterion A and B, whereas an individual who does not meet Criterion B can be ascertained but ''not'' diagnosed as having a paraphilia.<ref name="pmid19757012">{{cite journal | author = Blanchard R | title = The DSM diagnostic criteria for pedophilia | journal = Arch Sex Behav | volume = 39 | issue = 2 | pages = 304–16 |date=April 2010  | pmid = 19757012 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-009-9536-0 | url = }}</ref> Blanchard and a number of his colleagues also proposed that hebephilia become a diagnosable mental disorder under the DSM-5 to resolve the physical development overlap between pedophilia and hebephilia by combining the categories under ''pedophilic disorder'', but with specifiers on which age range (or both) is the primary interest.<ref name="dsm5.org"/><ref name=Blanchard>{{cite journal | author = Blanchard R, Lykins AD, Wherrett D, Kuban ME, Cantor JM, Blak T, Dickey R, Klassen PE | title = Pedophilia, Hebephilia, and the DSM-V | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 38 | issue = 3 | pages = 335–350 | year = 2009 | pmid = 18686026 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-008-9399-9 | url = http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10508-008-9399-9 | format = pdf }}</ref> The proposal for hebephilia was rejected by the [[American Psychiatric Association]],<ref name=prnsdhebephilia>{{cite web |url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/witness/201212/psychiatry-rejects-novel-sexual-disorder-hebephilia |title=Psychiatry Rejects Novel Sexual Disorder "Hebephilia" |author=Karen Franklin |date=2 December 2012 |publisher=Psychology Today |location=USA }}</ref> but the distinction between ''paraphilia'' and ''paraphilic disorder'' was implemented.<ref name="DSM 5"/><ref name= "dsm5.org Fact Sheet">{{cite web|title=Paraphilic Disorders|year=2013|accessdate=July 8, 2013|publisher=[[American Psychiatric Association|American Psychiatric Publishing]]|url=http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Paraphilic%20Disorders%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf}}</ref>

The American Psychiatric Association stated that "[i]n the case of pedophilic disorder, the notable detail is what wasn't revised in the new manual. Although proposals were discussed throughout the DSM-5 development process, diagnostic criteria ultimately remained the same as in DSM-IV TR" and that "[o]nly the disorder name will be changed from pedophilia to pedophilic disorder to maintain consistency with the chapter’s other listings."<ref name= "dsm5.org Fact Sheet"/> If hebephilia had been accepted as a DSM-5 diagnosable disorder, it would have been similar to the ICD-10 definition of pedophilia that already includes early pubescents,<ref name=SetoReview/> and would have raised the minimum age required for a person to be able to be diagnosed with pedophilia from 16 years to 18 years (with the individual needing to be at least 5 years older than the minor).<ref name="dsm5.org"/>

O'Donohue, however, suggests that the diagnostic criteria for pedophilia be simplified to the attraction to children alone if ascertained by self-report, laboratory findings, or past behavior. He states that any sexual attraction to children is pathological and that distress is irrelevant, noting "this sexual attraction has the potential to cause significant harm to others and is also not in the best interests of the individual."<ref>{{cite journal | author = O'Donohue W | title = A critique of the proposed DSM-V diagnosis of pedophilia | journal = Arch Sex Behav | volume = 39 | issue = 3 | pages = 587–90 | date = Jun 2010 | pmid = 20204487 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-010-9604-5 }}</ref> Also arguing for behavioral criteria in defining pedophilia, Howard E. Barbaree and [[Michael C. Seto]] disagreed with the American Psychiatric Association's approach in 1997 and instead recommended the use of actions as the sole criterion for the diagnosis of pedophilia, as a means of [[taxonomy (biology)|taxonomic]] simplification.<ref name="barbaree-seto">Barbaree, H. E., and Seto, M. C. (1997). Pedophilia: Assessment and Treatment. ''Sexual Deviance: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment''. 175-193.</ref>

==Development and sexual orientation==
Pedophilia has been described as a disorder of sexual preference, phenomenologically similar to a [[Heterosexuality|heterosexual]] or [[Homosexuality|homosexual]] [[sexual orientation]] because it emerges before or during puberty, and because it is stable over time.<ref>Brian L. Cutler, ''Encyclopedia of Psychology and Law'', SAGE, 2008, ISBN 978-1-4129-5189-0, p. 549</ref> These observations, however, do not exclude pedophilia from the group of mental disorders because pedophilic acts cause harm, and pedophiles can sometimes be helped by mental health professionals to refrain from acting on their impulses which cause harm to children.<ref name="Berlin">{{cite web|first=Fred S.|last=Berlin|title=Treatments to Change Sexual Orientation|publisher=psychiatryonline.org/[[American Journal of Psychiatry]]|date= May 1, 2000|accessdate=December 10, 2014|url=http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=174135}}</ref>

In response to misinterpretations that the American Psychiatric Association considers pedophilia a sexual orientation because it renamed the disorder ''pedophilic disorder'' in its DSM-5 manual, the association stated: "'[S]exual orientation' is not a term used in the diagnostic criteria for pedophilic disorder and its use in the DSM-5 text discussion is an error and should read 'sexual interest.'"<ref name="Wetzstein">{{cite news| last=Wetzstein| first=Cheryl | title=APA to correct manual: Pedophilia is not a ‘sexual orientation’|work=[[The Washington Times ]]|date=October 31, 2013|accessdate=February 14, 2014|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/31/apa-correct-manual-clarification-pedophilia-not-se/}}</ref>

==Comorbidity and personality traits==
Studies of pedophilia in child sex offenders often report that it co-occurs with other [[psychopathology|psychopathologies]], such as low [[self-esteem]],<ref>{{cite journal | author = Marshall WL | title = The relationship between self-esteem and deviant sexual arousal in nonfamilial child molesters | journal = Behavior Modification | volume = 21 | issue = 1 | pages = 86–96 | year = 1997 | pmid = 8995044 | doi = 10.1177/01454455970211005 | url =  }}</ref> depression, anxiety, and personality problems. It is not clear whether these are features of the disorder itself, artifacts of sampling bias, or consequences of being identified as a sex offender.<ref name="setocomorbidity" /> One review of the literature concluded that research on personality correlates and psychopathology in pedophiles is rarely methodologically correct, in part owing to confusion between pedophiles and child sex offenders, as well as the difficulty of obtaining a representative, community sample of pedophiles.<ref>Okami, P. & Goldberg, A. (1992). "Personality Correlates of Pedophilia: Are They Reliable Indicators?", ''Journal of Sex Research'', Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 297–328. "For example, because an unknown percentage of true pedophiles may never act on their impulses or may never be arrested, forensic samples of sex offenders against minors clearly do not represent the population of "pedophiles", and many such persons apparently do not even belong to the population of "pedophiles"."</ref> Seto (2004) points out that pedophiles who are available from a clinical setting are likely there because of distress over their sexual preference or pressure from others. This increases the likelihood that they will show psychological problems. Similarly, pedophiles recruited from a correctional setting have been convicted of a crime, making it more likely that they will show anti-social characteristics.<ref name="seto2004" />

Impaired self-concept and interpersonal functioning were reported in a sample of child sex offenders who met the diagnostic criteria for pedophilia by Cohen et al. (2002), which the authors suggested could contribute to motivation for pedophilic acts. The pedophilic offenders in the study had elevated psychopathy and cognitive distortions compared to healthy community controls. This was interpreted as underlying their failure to inhibit criminal behavior.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Cohen LJ, McGeoch PG, Watras-Gans S, Acker S, Poznansky O, Cullen K, Itskovich Y, Galynker I | title = Personality impairment in male pedophiles | journal = Journal of Clinical Psychiatry | volume = 63 | issue = 10 | pages = 912–9 | date = October 2002 | pmid = 12416601 | doi = 10.4088/JCP.v63n1009 | url = http://www.psychiatrist.com/privatepdf/2002/v63n10/v63n1009.pdf | format = PDF }}</ref> Studies in 2009 and 2012 found that non-pedophilic child molesters exhibited psychopathy, but pedophiles did not.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Strassberg, Donald S., Eastvold, Angela, Kenney, J. Wilson, Suchy, Yana | title = Psychopathy among pedophilic and nonpedophilic child molesters | journal = Child Abuse & Neglect | volume = 36 | pages =  379–382 | year = 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Suchy, Yana; Whittaker, Wilson J.; Strassberg, Donald S.; Eastvold, Angela | title = Facial and prosodic affect recognition among pedophilic and nonpedophilic criminal child molesters | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment | volume = 21 | issue = 1 | pages = 93–110 | year = 2009}}</ref> 
 
Wilson and Cox (1983) studied the characteristics of a group of pedophile club members. The most marked differences between pedophiles and controls were on the introversion scale, with pedophiles showing elevated shyness, sensitivity and depression. The pedophiles scored higher on [[neuroticism]] and [[psychoticism]], but not enough to be considered pathological as a group. The authors caution that "there is a difficulty in untangling cause and effect. We cannot tell whether paedophiles gravitate towards children because, being highly introverted, they find the company of children less threatening than that of adults, or whether the social withdrawal implied by their introversion is a result of the isolation engendered by their preference i.e., awareness of the social approbation and hostility that it evokes" (p.&nbsp;324).<ref>{{cite journal | author = Wilson G. D., Cox D. N. | year = 1983 | title = Personality of paedophile club members | url = | journal = Personality and Individual Differences | volume = 4 | issue = 3| pages = 323–329 | doi = 10.1016/0191-8869(83)90154-X }}</ref> In a non-clinical survey, 46% of pedophiles reported that they had seriously considered suicide for reasons related to their sexual interest, 32% planned to carry it out, and 13% had already attempted it.<ref name="jahnkeblind" />

A review of qualitative research studies published between 1982 and 2001 concluded that child sexual abusers use [[cognitive distortion]]s to meet personal needs, justifying abuse by making excuses, redefining their actions as love and mutuality, and exploiting the power imbalance inherent in all adult–child relationships.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Lawson L | title = Isolation, gratification, justification: offenders' explanations of child molesting | journal = Issues in Mental Health Nursing | volume = 24 | issue = 6-7 | pages = 695–705 | year = 2003 | pmid = 12907384 | doi=10.1080/01612840305328}}</ref> Other cognitive distortions include the idea of "children as sexual beings", "uncontrollability of sexuality", and "sexual entitlement-bias".<ref>{{cite journal | author = Mihailides S, Devilly GJ, Ward T | title = Implicit cognitive distortions and sexual offending | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment | volume = 16 | issue = 4 | pages = 333–350 | year = 2004 | pmid = 15560415 | doi = 10.1177/107906320401600406 }}</ref>

==Prevalence and child molestation==
The prevalence of pedophilia in the general population is not known,<ref name=SetoReview/><ref name="seto2004">{{cite journal | author = Seto MC | title = Pedophilia and sexual offenses against children | journal = Annu Rev Sex Res | volume = 15 | issue =  | pages = 321–61 | year = 2004 | pmid = 16913283 | doi =  }}</ref> but is estimated to be lower than 5% among adult men.<ref name=SetoReview/> Less is known about the prevalence of pedophilia in women, but there are case reports of women with strong sexual fantasies and urges towards children.<ref name="setowomen" /> Most sexual offenders against children are male. Females may account for 0.4% to 4% of convicted sexual offenders, and one study estimates a 10 to 1 ratio of male-to-female child molesters.<ref name=psychiatrictimes.com/> The true number of female child molesters may be underrepresented by available estimates, for reasons including a "societal tendency to dismiss the negative impact of sexual relationships between young boys and adult women, as well as women's greater access to very young children who cannot report their abuse", among other explanations.<ref name=psychiatrictimes.com/>

The term ''pedophile'' is commonly used by the public to describe all child sexual abuse offenders.<ref name="ames"/><ref name="Edwards"/> This usage is considered problematic by researchers, because many child molesters do not have a strong sexual interest in prepubescent children, and are consequently not pedophiles.<ref name=Oxford/><ref name="Edwards"/><ref name=SetoReview/><ref name=Studer/> There are motives for child sexual abuse that are unrelated to pedophilia,<ref name="barbaree-seto" /> such as stress, marital problems, the unavailability of an adult partner,<ref>Howells, K. (1981). "Adult sexual interest in children: Considerations relevant to theories of aetiology", ''Adult sexual interest in children.'' 55-94.</ref> general anti-social tendencies, high sex drive, or alcohol use.<ref name="setosituational">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= 4}}</ref> As child sexual abuse is not automatically an indicator that its perpetrator is a pedophile, offenders can be separated into two types: pedophilic and non-pedophilic<ref name="suchyfacial">{{cite journal | author= Suchy, Y., Whittaker, W.J., Strassberg, D., & Eastvold, A. | title= Facial and Prosodic Affect Recognition Among Pedophilic and Nonpedophilic Criminal Child Molesters | journal= Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment | volume= 21 | issue= 1| year= 2009| pages= 93–110}}</ref> (or preferential and situational<ref name=lanning3e>{{Cite web|title=Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis |url=http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC70.pdf |author=Lanning, Kenneth |year=2010 |publisher=National Center for Missing & Exploited Children |format=PDF}}</ref>). Estimates for the rate of pedophilia in detected child molesters generally range between 25% and 50%.<ref name="schaefer">{{cite journal| author= Schaefer, G. A., Mundt, I. A., Feelgood, S., Hupp, E., Neutze, J., Ahlers, Ch. J., Goecker, D., Beier, K. M. | year= 2010 | title= Potential and Dunkelfeld offenders: Two neglected target groups for prevention of child sexual abuse | journal = International Journal of Law & Psychiatry | volume = 33 | issue = 3 | pages = 154–163}}</ref> A 2006 study found that 35% of its sample of child molesters were pedophilic.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Seto, M. C., Cantor, J. M., & Blanchard, R. | year =2006 | title = Child pornography offenses are a valid diagnostic indicator of pedophilia | journal = Journal of Abnormal Psychology | volume = 115 | page = 612}}</ref> Pedophilia appears to be less common in incest offenders,<ref name="setoincest">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= 123}}</ref> especially fathers and step-fathers.<ref name="blanchardfathers">{{cite journal| author = Blanchard, R., Kuban, M. E., Blak, T., Cantor, J. M., Klassen, P., & Dickey, R. | year = 2006 | title = Phallometric comparison of pedophilic interest in nonadmitting sexual offenders against stepdaughters, biological daughters, other biologically related girls, and unrelated girls | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment | volume = 18 | issue = 1 | pages = 1–14}}</ref> According to a U.S. study on 2429 adult male sex offenders who were categorized as "pedophiles", only 7% identified themselves as exclusive; indicating that many or most child sexual abusers may fall into the non-exclusive category.<ref name=mayoclinic/>

Some pedophiles do not molest children.<ref name="setovii" /><ref name=faganJAMA/><ref name="feelgood" /><ref name="SetoReview" /> Little is known about this population because most studies of pedophilia use criminal or clinical samples, which may not be representative of pedophiles in general.<ref name="setononrep">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|pages= 47–48, 66}}</ref> Researcher Michael Seto suggests that pedophiles who commit child sexual abuse do so because of other anti-social traits in addition to their sexual attraction. He states that pedophiles who are "reflective, sensitive to the feelings of others, averse to risk, abstain from alcohol or drug use, and endorse attitudes and beliefs supportive of norms and the laws" may be unlikely to abuse children.<ref name="SetoReview" /> A 2015 study found that pedophiles who molested children were neurologically distinct from non-offending pedophiles. The pedophilic molesters had neurological deficits suggestive of disruptions in inhibitory regions of the brain, while non-offending pedophiles had no such deficits.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Kärgel, C., Massau, C., Weiß, S., Walter, M., Kruger, T. H., & Schiffer, B. | year = 2015 | title = Diminished Functional Connectivity on the Road to Child Sexual Abuse in Pedophilia | journal = The Journal of Sexual Medicine}}</ref>

According to Abel, Mittleman, and Becker<ref>Abel, G. G., Mittleman, M. S., & Becker, J. V. (1985). "Sex offenders: Results of assessment and recommendations for treatment". In M. H. Ben-Aron, S. J. Hucker, & C. D. Webster (Eds.), ''Clinical criminology: The assessment and treatment of criminal behavior'' (pp. 207–220). Toronto, Canada: M & M Graphics.</ref> (1985) and Ward ''et al.'' (1995), there are generally large distinctions between the characteristics of pedophilic and non-pedophilic molesters. They state that non-pedophilic offenders tend to offend at times of stress; have a later onset of offending; and have fewer, often familial, victims, while pedophilic offenders often start offending at an early age; often have a larger number of victims who are frequently extrafamilial; are more inwardly driven to offend; and have values or beliefs that strongly support an offense lifestyle. One study found that pedophilic molesters had a median of 1.3 victims for those with girl victims and 4.4 for those with boy victims.<ref name="schaefer" /> Child molesters, pedophilic or not, employ a variety of methods to gain sexual access to children. Some groom their victims into compliance with attention and gifts, while others use threats, alcohol or drugs, or physical force.<ref name="setotactics">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|pages= 64, 189}}</ref>

==Child pornography==
Consumption of [[child pornography]] is a more reliable indicator of pedophilia than molesting a child,<ref name="setocp" /> although some non-pedophiles also use child pornography.<ref name="lanning79">{{cite journal|title=Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis, Fifth Edition|first=Kenneth V. |last=Lanning |year=2010 |publisher=National Center for Missing and Exploited Children | url = http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC70.pdf | page = 79}}</ref> Child pornography may be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from private sexual gratification or trading with other collectors, to preparing children for sexual abuse as part of the [[child grooming]] process.<ref name=CrossonTower208>{{cite book|title=Understanding child abuse and neglect  |first=Cynthia |last=Crosson-Tower |isbn=0-205-40183-X |publisher=Allyn & Bacon |year=2005|page=208}}</ref><ref name=Wortley14>{{cite journal|title=Child Pornography on the Internet |author=Richard Wortley, Stephen Smallbone |journal=Problem-Oriented Guides for Police |volume=No. 41|pages=14–16 | url = http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Publications/e04062000.pdf}}</ref><ref name= Levesque64>{{cite book |title=Sexual Abuse of Children: A Human Rights Perspective |first=Roger J. R. |last=Levesque |year=1999 |pages=p64|publisher=Indiana University |isbn= 0-253-33471-3}}</ref>

Pedophilic viewers of child pornography are often obsessive about collecting, organizing, categorizing, and labeling their child pornography collection according to age, gender, sex act and fantasy.<ref name=CrossonTower200>{{cite book|title=Understanding child abuse and neglect |first=Cynthia |last=Crosson-Tower |isbn=0-205-40183-X |publisher=Allyn & Bacon |year=2005|pages=198–200}}</ref> According to FBI agent Ken Lanning, "collecting" pornography does not mean that they merely view pornography, but that they save it, and "it comes to define, fuel, and validate their most cherished sexual fantasies".<ref name="lanning79" /> Lanning states that the collection is the single best indicator of what the offender wants to do, but not necessarily of what has or will be done.<ref name="lanning107">{{cite journal|title=Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis, Fifth Edition|first=Kenneth V. |last=Lanning |year=2010 |publisher=National Center for Missing and Exploited Children | url = http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC70.pdf | page = 107}}</ref> Researchers Taylor and Quayle reported that pedophilic collectors of child pornography are often involved in anonymous internet communities dedicated to extending their collections.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Quayle, E. and Taylor, M. | year = 2002 | title = Child pornography and the internet: Assessment Issues | journal = British Journal of Social Work | volume = 32 | page = 867}}</ref>

==Causes and biological associations==
Although what causes pedophilia is not yet known, beginning in 2002, researchers began reporting a series of findings [[association (statistics)|linking]] pedophilia with brain structure and function.  Testing individuals from a variety of referral sources inside and outside the criminal justice system as well as [[control group|controls]], these studies found associations between pedophilia and lower [[Intelligence quotient|IQs]],<ref name=Blanchard2007>{{cite journal | author = Blanchard R., Kolla N. J., Cantor J. M., Klassen P. E., Dickey R., Kuban M. E., Blak T. | year = 2007 | title = IQ, handedness, and pedophilia in adult male patients stratified by referral source | url = | journal = Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment | volume = 19 | issue = 3| pages = 285–309 | doi = 10.1177/107906320701900307 }}</ref><ref name = Cantor2004>{{cite journal | author = Cantor JM, Blanchard R, Christensen BK, Dickey R, Klassen PE, Beckstead AL, Blak T, Kuban ME | title = Intelligence, memory, and handedness in pedophilia | journal = Neuropsychology | volume = 18 | issue = 1 | pages = 3–14 | year = 2004 | pmid = 14744183 | doi = 10.1037/0894-4105.18.1.3 | url =  }}</ref><ref name = Cantor2005>{{cite journal | author = Cantor JM, Blanchard R, Robichaud LK, Christensen BK | title = Quantitative reanalysis of aggregate data on IQ in sexual offenders | journal = Psychological Bulletin | volume = 131 | issue = 4 | pages = 555–568 | year = 2005 | pmid = 16060802 | doi = 10.1037/0033-2909.131.4.555 | url =  }}</ref> poorer scores on memory tests,<ref name = Cantor2004/> greater rates of non-right-handedness,<ref name = Blanchard2007/><ref name = Cantor2004/><ref>{{cite journal | author = Cantor JM, Klassen PE, Dickey R, Christensen BK, Kuban ME, Blak T, Williams NS, Blanchard R | title = Handedness in pedophilia and hebephilia | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 34 | issue = 4 | pages = 447–459 | year = 2005 | pmid = 16010467 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-005-4344-7 | url =  }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Bogaert AF | title = Handedness, criminality, and sexual offending | journal = Neuropsychologia | volume = 39 | issue = 5 | pages = 465–469 | year = 2001 | pmid = 11254928 | doi = 10.1016/S0028-3932(00)00134-2 | url =  }}</ref> greater rates of school grade failure over and above the IQ differences,<ref>{{cite journal | author = Cantor JM, Kuban ME, Blak T, Klassen PE, Dickey R, Blanchard R | title = Grade failure and special education placement in sexual offenders' educational histories | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 35 | issue = 6 | pages = 743–751 | year = 2006 | pmid = 16708284 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-006-9018-6 | url =  }}</ref> lesser physical height,<ref name="pmid17952597">{{cite journal | author = Cantor JM, Kuban ME, Blak T, Klassen PE, Dickey R, Blanchard R | title = Physical height in pedophilic and hebephilic sexual offenders | journal = Sex Abuse | volume = 19 | issue = 4 | pages = 395–407 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17952597 | doi = 10.1007/s11194-007-9060-5 }}</ref> greater probability of having suffered childhood head injuries resulting in unconsciousness,<ref name = Blanchard2002/><ref>{{cite journal | author = Blanchard R, Kuban ME, Klassen P, Dickey R, Christensen BK, Cantor JM, Blak T | title = Self-reported injuries before and after age 13 in pedophilic and non-pedophilic men referred for clinical assessment | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 32 | issue = 6 | pages = 573–581 | year = 2003 | pmid = 14574100 | doi = 10.1023/A:1026093612434 | url =  }}</ref> and several differences in [[MRI]]-detected brain structures.<ref name = Cantor2008>{{cite journal | author = Cantor JM, Kabani N, Christensen BK, Zipursky RB, Barbaree HE, Dickey R, Klassen PE, Mikulis DJ, Kuban ME, Blak T, Richards BA, Hanratty MK, Blanchard R | title = Cerebral white matter deficiencies in pedophilic men | journal = Journal of Psychiatric Research | volume = 42 | issue = 3 | pages = 167–183 | year = 2008 | pmid = 18039544 | doi = 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2007.10.013 }}</ref><ref name="pmid16876824">{{cite journal | author = Schiffer B, Peschel T, Paul T, Gizewski E, Forsting M, Leygraf N, Schedlowski M, Krueger TH | title = Structural brain abnormalities in the frontostriatal system and cerebellum in pedophilia | journal = J Psychiatr Res | volume = 41 | issue = 9 | pages = 753–62 | year = 2007 | pmid = 16876824 | doi = 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2006.06.003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Schiltz K, Witzel J, Northoff G, Zierhut K, Gubka U, Fellmann H, Kaufmann J, Tempelmann C, Wiebking C, Bogerts B | title = Brain pathology in pedophilic offenders: Evidence of volume reduction in the right amygdala and related diencephalic structures | journal = Archives of General Psychiatry | volume = 64 | issue = 6 | pages = 737–746 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17548755 | doi = 10.1001/archpsyc.64.6.737 }}</ref> They report that their findings suggest that there are one or more neurological characteristics present at birth that cause or increase the likelihood of being pedophilic. Some studies have found that pedophiles are less cognitively impaired than non-pedophilic child molesters.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Joyal, CC, Plante-Beaulieu, J. & De Chanterac, A. | title = The neuropsychology of sexual offenders: A meta-analysis. | journal = Journal of Sexual Abuse | volume = 26 | pages = 149–177 | year = 2014 | quote = The distinction between nonpedophilic child molesters and exclusive pedophile child molesters, for instance, could be crucial in neuropsychology because the latter seem to be less cognitively impaired (Eastvold et al., 2011; Schiffer & Vonlaufen, 2011; Suchy et al., 2009). Pedophilic child molesters might perform as well as controls (and better than nonpedophilic child molesters) on a wide variety of neuropsychological measures when mean IQ and other socioeconomic factors are similar (Schiffer & Vonlaufen, 2011). In fact, some pedophiles have higher IQ levels and more years of education compared with the general population (Langevin et al., 2000; Lothstein, 1999; Plante & Aldridge, 2005).}}</ref> A 2011 study found that pedophilic child molesters had deficits in response inhibition, but no deficits in memory or cognitive flexibility.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Schiffer, B., & Vonlaufen, C. | title = Executive dysfunctions in pedophilic and nonpedophilic child molesters. | journal = Journal of Sexual Medicine | volume = 8 | pages = 1975–1984 | year = 2011}}</ref> Evidence of familial transmittability "suggests, but does not prove that genetic factors are responsible" for the development of pedophilia.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Gaffney GR, Lurie SF, Berlin FS | title = Is there familial transmission of pedophilia? | journal = J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. | volume = 172 | issue = 9 | pages = 546–8 | date = September 1984 | pmid = 6470698 | doi = 10.1097/00005053-198409000-00006 }}</ref>

Another study, using structural [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]], shows that male pedophiles have a lower volume of [[white matter]] than a [[Scientific control|control group]].<ref name = Cantor2008/> Functional magnetic resonance imaging ([[fMRI]]) has shown that child molesters diagnosed with pedophilia have reduced activation of the [[hypothalamus]] as compared with non-pedophilic persons when viewing sexually arousing pictures of adults.<ref>Walter ''et al.'' (2007). "Pedophilia Is Linked to Reduced Activation in Hypothalamus and Lateral Prefrontal Cortex During Visual Erotic Stimulation". ''Biological Psychiatry.'' '''62'''.</ref>  A 2008 functional [[neuroimaging]] study notes that central processing of sexual stimuli in heterosexual "paedophile forensic inpatients" may be altered by a disturbance in the prefrontal networks, which "may be associated with stimulus-controlled behaviours, such as sexual compulsive behaviours". The findings may also suggest "a dysfunction at the [[cognitive]] stage of [[sexual arousal]] processing".<ref>{{cite journal | author = Schiffer B, Paul T, Gizewski E, Forsting M, Leygraf N, Schedlowski M, Kruger TH | title = Functional brain correlates of heterosexual paedophilia | journal = Neuroimage | volume = 41 | issue = 1 | pages = 80–91 | date = May 2008 | pmid = 18358744 | doi = 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.02.008 }}</ref>

Blanchard, Cantor, and Robichaud (2006) reviewed the research that attempted to identify [[hormone|hormonal]] aspects of pedophiles.<ref name = Blanchard2006>Blanchard, R., Cantor, J. M., & Robichaud, L. K. (2006). Biological factors in the development of sexual deviance and aggression in males. In H. E. Barbaree & W. L. Marshall (Eds.), ''The juvenile sex offender'' (2nd ed., pp. 77–104). New York: Guilford.</ref> They concluded that there is some evidence that pedophilic men have less [[testosterone]] than controls, but that the research is of poor quality and that it is difficult to draw any firm conclusion from it.

While not causes of pedophilia themselves, [[Child abuse|childhood abuse]] by adults or [[comorbidity|comorbid]] psychiatric illnesses—such as [[personality disorder]]s and [[substance abuse]]—are risk factors for acting on pedophilic urges.<ref name=faganJAMA>{{cite journal | author = Fagan PJ, Wise TN, Schmidt CW, Berlin FS | title = Pedophilia | journal = JAMA | volume = 288 | issue = 19 | pages = 2458–65 | date = November 2002 | pmid = 12435259 | doi = 10.1001/jama.288.19.2458 | url = http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=12435259 }}</ref> Blanchard, Cantor, and Robichaud addressed comorbid psychiatric illnesses that, "The theoretical implications are not so clear. Do particular genes or noxious factors in the prenatal environment predispose a male to develop both affective disorders and pedophilia, or do the frustration, danger, and isolation engendered by unacceptable sexual desires—or their occasional furtive satisfaction—lead to anxiety and despair?"<ref name = Blanchard2006/> They indicated that, because they previously found mothers of pedophiles to be more likely to have undergone psychiatric treatment,<ref name = Blanchard2002>{{cite journal | author = Blanchard R, Christensen BK, Strong SM, Cantor JM, Kuban ME, Klassen P, Dickey R, Blak T | title = Retrospective self-reports of childhood accidents causing unconsciousness in phallometrically diagnosed pedophiles | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 31 | issue = 6 | pages = 511–526 | year = 2002 | pmid = 12462478 | doi = 10.1023/A:1020659331965 | url =  }}</ref> the genetic possibility is more likely.

A study analyzing the sexual fantasies of 200 heterosexual men by using the Wilson Sex Fantasy Questionnaire exam determined that males with a pronounced degree of [[Paraphilia|paraphilic]] interest (including pedophilia) had a greater number of older brothers, a high 2D:4D [[digit ratio]] (which would indicate excessive prenatal estrogen exposure), and an elevated probability of being [[Left-handedness|left-handed]], suggesting that disturbed hemispheric [[Lateralization of brain function|brain lateralization]] may play a role in deviant attractions.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Rahman Q, Symeonides DJ | title = Neurodevelopmental Correlates of Paraphilic Sexual Interests in Men | journal = [[Archives of Sexual Behavior]] | volume = 37 | issue = 1 | pages = 166–172 | date = February 2007 | pmid = 18074220 | doi = 10.1007/s10508-007-9255-3 }}</ref>

==Treatment==
There is no evidence that pedophilia can be cured.<ref name=SetoReview/> Instead, most therapies focus on helping the pedophile refrain from acting on their desires.<ref name=faganJAMA/><ref name=fullerJAMA>{{cite journal | author = Fuller AK | title = Child molestation and pedophilia. An overview for the physician | journal = JAMA | volume = 261 | issue = 4 | pages = 602–6 | date = January 1989 | pmid = 2642565 | doi = 10.1001/jama.261.4.602 }}</ref> Some therapies do attempt to cure pedophilia, but there are no studies showing that they effect a long-term change in sexual preference.<ref>{{cite book | author = Camilleri, Joseph A., and Quinsey, Vernon L. |date= 2008 | title = Sexual Deviance: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment, 2nd edition | publisher = The Guilford Press | page = 193 | chapter = Pedophilia: Assessment and Treatment | editor1-last = Laws | editor1-first = D. Richard}}</ref> [[Michael Seto]] suggests that attempts to cure pedophilia in adulthood are unlikely to succeed because its development is influenced by prenatal factors.<ref name=SetoReview/> [[Fred Berlin]], founder of the [[Johns Hopkins]] Sexual Disorders Clinic, believes that pedophilia may be no easier to alter than homosexuality or heterosexuality,<ref>{{cite journal | author = Berlin, Fred S. | year = 2000 | title = Treatments to Change Sexual Orientation | journal = American Journal of Psychiatry | volume = 157 | page = 838 | url = http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.157.5.838}}.</ref> but that pedophiles can be helped to control their behavior, and future research could develop a method of prevention.<ref name="berlin">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.paraphilias.com/publications/pdfs/Peer%20Comment.pdf|title=Peer Commentaries on Green (2002) and Schmidt (2002) - Pedophilia: When Is a Difference a Disorder?|first=Fred S. |last=Berlin|journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior|volume=31|issue=6|date=December 2002|pages=479–480|doi=10.1023/A:1020603214218|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-12-17}}</ref>

There are several common limitations to studies of treatment effectiveness. Most categorize their participants by behavior rather than erotic age preference, which makes it difficult to know the specific treatment outcome for pedophiles.<ref name=faganJAMA/> Many do not select their treatment and control groups [[Randomized controlled trial|randomly]]. Offenders who refuse or quit treatment are at higher risk of offending, so excluding them from the treated group, while not excluding those who would have refused or quit from the control group, can bias the treated group in favor of those with lower recidivism.<ref name=SetoReview/><ref>{{cite journal | author = Rice ME, Harris GT | year = 2003 | title = The size and signs of treatment effects in sex offender therapy | journal = Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences | volume = 989 | page = 428–40}}</ref> The effectiveness of treatment for non-offending pedophiles has not been studied.<ref name=SetoReview/>

===Cognitive behavioral therapy===
[[Cognitive behavioral therapy]] (CBT) aims to reduce attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that may increase the likelihood of sexual offenses against children. Its content varies widely between therapists, but a typical program might involve training in self-control, social competence and empathy, and use [[cognitive restructuring]] to change views on sex with children. The most common form of this therapy is [[relapse prevention]], where the patient is taught to identify and respond to potentially risky situations based on principles used for treating addictions.<ref name="seto171">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= 171}}</ref>

The evidence for cognitive behavioral therapy is mixed.<ref name="seto171" /> A 2012 [[Cochrane Collaboration|Cochrane Review]] of randomized trials found that CBT had no effect on risk of reoffending for contact sex offenders.<ref name="cochrane">{{cite journal | author = Dennis JA, Khan O, Ferriter M, Huband N, Powney MJ, Duggan C. | year = 2012 | title = Psychological interventions for adults who have sexually offended or are at risk of offending | journal = Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 12 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD007507.pub2}}</ref> Meta-analyses in 2002 and 2005, which included both randomized and non-randomized studies, concluded that CBT reduced recidivism.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Lösel F, Schmucker M | year = 2005 | title = The effectiveness of treatment for sexual offenders: a comprehensive meta-analysis | journal = Journal of Experimental Criminology | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | page = 117–46}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Hanson RK, Gordon A, Harris AJR, Marques JK, Murphy W, et al. | year = 2002 | title = First report of the collaborative outcome data project on the effectiveness of treatment for sex offenders | journal = Sexual Abuse | volume = 14 | issue = 2 | page = 169–94}}</ref> There is debate over whether non-randomized studies should be considered informative.<ref name=SetoReview/><ref name="rice2012">{{cite book | author = Rice ME, Harris GT | year = 2012 | chapter = Treatment for adult sex offenders: may we reject the null hypothesis? | title = Handbook of Legal & Ethical Aspects of Sex Offender Treatment & Management | editor = Harrison K, Rainey B | location = London | publisher = Wiley-Blackwell}}</ref> More research is needed.<ref name="cochrane" />

===Behavioral interventions===
Behavioral treatments target sexual arousal to children, using satiation and aversion techniques to suppress sexual arousal to children and [[covert sensitization]] (or [[masturbation|masturbatory]] reconditioning) to increase sexual arousal to adults.<ref name="setobehav">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= 175}}</ref> Behavioral treatments appear to have an effect on sexual arousal patterns during phallometric testing, but it is not known whether the effect represents changes in sexual interests or changes in the ability to control genital arousal during testing, nor whether the effect persists in the long term.<ref>Barbaree, H. E., Bogaert, A. F., & Seto, M. C. (1995). Sexual reorientation therapy for pedophiles: Practices and controversies. In L. Diamant & R. D. McAnulty (Eds.), ''The psychology of sexual orientation, behavior, and identity: A handbook'' (pp. 357–383). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.</ref><ref>Barbaree, H. C., & Seto, M. C. (1997). Pedophilia: Assessment and treatment. In D. R. Laws & W. T. O'Donohue (eds.), ''Sexual deviance: Theory, assessment and treatment'' (pp. 175–193). New York: Guildford Press.</ref> For sex offenders with mental disabilities, [[applied behavior analysis]] has been used.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Maguth Nezu C., Fiore A. A., Nezu A. M | year = 2006 | title = Problem Solving Treatment for Intellectually Disabled Sex Offenders | url = | journal = International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy | volume = 2 | issue = | pages = 266–275 | doi=10.1002/9780470713488.ch6}}</ref>

===Sex drive reduction===
Pharmacological interventions are used to lower the sex drive in general, which can ease the management of pedophilic feelings, but does not change sexual preference.<ref name="camillerimedical">{{cite book | author = Camilleri, Joseph A., and Quinsey, Vernon L. |date= 2008 | title = Sexual Deviance: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment, 2nd edition | publisher = The Guilford Press | page = 199-200 | chapter = Pedophilia: Assessment and Treatment | editor1-last = Laws | editor1-first = D. Richard}}</ref> [[Antiandrogens]] work by interfering with the activity of testosterone. [[Cyproterone acetate]] (Androcur) and [[medroxyprogesterone acetate]] (Depo-Provera) are the most commonly used. The efficacy of antiantrogens has some support, but few high-quality studies exist. Cyproterone acetate has the strongest evidence for reducing sexual arousal, while findings on medroxyprogesterone acetate have been mixed.<ref name="setopharm">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= 177-181}}</ref>

[[Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue]]s such as [[leuprolide acetate]] (Lupron), which last longer and have fewer side-effects, are also used to reduce libido,<ref name="pmid15985890">{{cite journal | author = Cohen LJ, Galynker II | title = Clinical features of pedophilia and implications for treatment | journal = Journal of Psychiatric Practice | volume = 8 | issue = 5 | pages = 276–89 | year = 2002 | pmid = 15985890 | doi = 10.1097/00131746-200209000-00004}}</ref> as are [[selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor]]s.<ref name="setopharm" /> The evidence for these alternatives is more limited and mostly based on open trials and case studies.<ref name=SetoReview /> All of these treatments, commonly referred to as "[[chemical castration]]", are often used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Guay, DR | year = 2009 | title = Drug treatment of paraphilic and nonparaphilic sexual disorders | journal = Clinical Therapeutics | volume = 31 | issue = 1 | page = 1-31}}</ref> According to the [[Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers]], when treating child molesters, "anti-androgen treatment should be coupled with appropriate monitoring and counseling within a comprehensive treatment plan."<ref name="atsacast">{{Cite web|title=Anti-androgen therapy and surgical castration|work=Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829070929/http://www.atsa.com/ppantiandro.html|year=1997}}</ref> These drugs may have side-effects, such as weight gain, breast development, liver damage and osteoporosis.<ref name=SetoReview />

Historically, surgical [[castration]] was used to lower sex drive by reducing testosterone. The emergence of pharmacological methods of adjusting testosterone has made it largely obsolete, because they are similarly effective and less invasive.<ref name="camillerimedical" /> It is still occasionally performed in Germany, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and a few U.S. states. Non-randomized studies have reported that surgical castration reduces recidivism in contact sex offenders.<ref name="setocastrate">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= 181-182, 192}}</ref> The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers opposes surgical castration<ref name="atsacast" /> and the [[Council of Europe]] works to bring the practice to an end in Eastern European countries where it is still applied through the courts.<ref>{{cite news | title = Prague Urged to End Castration of Sex Offenders | newspaper = DW.DE | date = 2009-02-05 | url = http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4004260,00.html | accessdate = 2015-01-19}}</ref>

==In law and forensic psychology==

===Definitions===
''Pedophilia'' is not a legal term,<ref name=mayoclinic/> and having a sexual attraction to children is not illegal in itself.<ref name=faganJAMA/> In law enforcement circles, the term ''pedophile'' is sometimes used in a broad manner to encompass a person who commits one or more sexually-based crimes that relate to [[age of consent|legally underage]] victims.  These crimes may include [[child sexual abuse]], [[statutory rape]], offenses involving [[child pornography]], [[child grooming]], [[stalking]], and [[indecent exposure]].  One unit of the United Kingdom's [[Child Abuse Investigation Command]] is known as the "Paedophile Unit" and specializes in online investigations and enforcement work.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Child abuse investigation impact | publisher =[[Metropolitan Police Service]] (met.police.uk) | accessdate = April 18, 2014| url =http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/policies/child_abuse_investigation_eia2012.pdf}}</ref>  Some forensic science texts, such as Holmes (2008), use the term to refer to offenders who target child victims, even when such children are not the primary sexual interest of the offender.<ref>{{Cite book | last1 = Holmes | first1 = Ronald M. | title = Profiling Violent Crimes: An Investigative Tool | publisher = Sage Publications | isbn = 1-4129-5998-5 }}</ref> [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent Kenneth Lanning, however, makes a point of distinguishing between pedophiles and child molesters.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis, Fifth Edition|first=Kenneth V. |last=Lanning |year=2010 |publisher=National Center for Missing and Exploited Children | url = http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC70.pdf | page = 16-17, 19-20}}</ref>

===Civil and legal commitment===
In the United States, following ''[[Kansas v. Hendricks]]'', sex offenders who have certain mental disorders, including pedophilia, can be subject to indefinite [[civil commitment]] under various state laws<ref name="setocivil" /> (generically called [[sexually violent predator laws|SVP laws]]<ref>{{cite journal | author = Morris, Grant H. | year = 2002 | title = Commentary: Punishing the Unpunishable—The Abuse of Psychiatry to Confine Those We Love to Hate | journal = Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law | volume = 30 | page = 556-562 | url = http://www.jaapl.org/cgi/reprint/30/4/556.pdf}}</ref>) and the federal [[Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act]] of 2006.<ref name=apabc>{{cite news | author = Holland, Jesse J. | title = Court: Sexually dangerous can be kept in prison | newspaper = Associated Press | date = May 17, 2010 | url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100520014516/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=10666088 | accessdate = May 16, 2010}}</ref> Similar legislation exists in Canada.<ref name="setocivil" /> 

In ''Kansas v. Hendricks'', the [[Supreme Court of the United States|US Supreme Court]] upheld as constitutional a Kansas law, the [[Sexually Violent Predator Act]], under which Hendricks, a pedophile, was found to have a "mental abnormality" defined as a "congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional capacity which predisposes the person to commit sexually violent offenses to the degree that such person is a menace to the health and safety of others", which allowed the State to confine Hendricks indefinitely irrespective of whether the State provided any treatment to him.<ref name=guilford>{{cite web
|url=http://www.guilford.com/cgi-bin/cartscript.cgi?page=etc/courts_updates.html&cart_id=#part_two
|title=Psychological Evaluation for the Courts, Second Edition - A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals and Lawyers - 9.04 Special Sentencing Provisions (b) Sexual Offender Statutes|publisher=Guilford.com|accessdate=2007-10-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=6MQj-mjHgBIC&pg=PA248 | title = Legal aspects of corrections management | isbn = 978-0-7637-2545-7 | author1 = Cripe | first1 = Clair A | last2 = Pearlman | first2 = Michael G | year = 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=gngG9zPmNKMC&pg=PA159 | title = Inside the minds of sexual predators | isbn = 978-0-313-37960-4 | author1 = Ramsland | first1 = Katherine M | last2 = McGrain | first2 = Patrick Norman | year = 2010}}</ref> In ''[[United States v. Comstock]]'', this type of indefinite confinement was upheld for someone previously convicted on child pornography charges; this time a federal law was involved — the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.<ref name=apabc/><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/us/politics/18offenders.html | work=The New York Times | first=Adam | last=Liptak | title=Extended Civil Commitment of Sex Offenders Is Upheld | date=2010-05-17}}</ref> The Walsh Act does not require a conviction on a sex offense charge, but only that the person be a [[Federal Bureau of Prisons|federal prisoner]], and one who "has engaged or attempted to engage in sexually violent conduct or child molestation and who is sexually dangerous to others", and who "would have serious difficulty in refraining from sexually violent conduct or child molestation if released".<ref name="papers.ssrn.com">{{cite journal | author = Barker, Emily | year = 2009 | title = The Adam Walsh Act: Un-Civil Commitment  | journal = Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly | volume = 37 | issue = 1 | page = 145 | url = http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1496934}}</ref>

In the US, offenders with pedophilia are more likely to be recommended for civil commitment than non-pedophilic offenders. About half of committed offenders have a diagnosis of pedophilia.<ref name="setocivil" /> Psychiatrist [[Michael First]] writes that, since not all people with a paraphilia have difficulty controlling their behavior, the evaluating clinician must present additional evidence of volitional impairment instead of recommending commitment based on pedophilia alone.<ref>{{cite journal | author = First, Michael B., Halon, Robert L. | year = 2008 | title = Use of DSM Paraphilia Diagnoses in Sexually Violent Predator Commitment Cases | journal = Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law | volume = 36 | issue = 4 | page = 450 | url = http://www.jaapl.org/cgi/reprint/36/4/443.pdf}}</ref>

==Societal views==

===General===
Pedophilia is one of the most stigmatized mental disorders.<ref name="jahnkeblind">{{cite journal | author = Jahnke, S., Hoyer, J. | year = 2013 | title = Stigma against people with pedophilia: A blind spot in stigma research? | journal = International Journal of Sexual Health | volume = 25 | page = 169–184}}</ref> One study reported high levels of anger, fear and social rejection even towards pedophiles who have not committed a crime.<ref name="jahnkesurveys">{{cite journal | author = Jahnke, S., Imhoff, R., Hoyer, J. | year = 2015 | title = Stigmatization of People with Pedophilia: Two Comparative Surveys | journal = Archives of Sexual Behavior | volume = 24 | issue = 1 | page = 21-34}}</ref> The authors suggested such attitudes could negatively impact child sexual abuse prevention by reducing pedophiles' mental stability and discouraging them from seeking help.<ref name="jahnkeblind" /> According to sociologists Melanie-Angela Neuilly and Kristen Zgoba, social concern over pedophilia intensified greatly in the 1990s, coinciding with several sensational sex crimes (but a general decline in child sexual abuse rates). They found that the word "pedophile" appeared only rarely in ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''[[Le Monde]]'' before 1996, with zero mentions in 1991.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Neuillya, M. & Zgobab, K. | year = 2006 | title = Assessing the Possibility of a Pedophilia Panic and Contagion Effect Between France and the United States | journal = Victims & Offenders | volume = 1 | issue = 3 | page = 225-254}}</ref>

Social attitudes towards child sexual abuse are extremely negative, with some surveys ranking it as morally worse than murder.<ref name="setoviii">{{cite book |last= Seto |first= Michael |date= 2008|title= Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children |location= Washington, DC |publisher= American Psychological Association|page= viii}}</ref> Early research showed that there was a great deal of misunderstanding and unrealistic perceptions in the general public about child sexual abuse and pedophiles. However, a 2004 study concluded that the public was well-informed on some aspects of these subjects.<ref>{{cite journal | author = McCartan, K. | title = 'Here There Be Monsters': the public's perception of paedophiles with particular reference to Belfast and Leicester | journal = Medicine, Science and the Law | volume = 44 | issue = 4 | pages = 327–42 | year = 2004 | pmid = 15573972 | doi = 10.1258/rsmmsl.44.4.327 }}</ref>

===Misuse of medical terminology===
The words ''pedophile'' and ''pedophilia'' are sometimes used informally to describe an adult's sexual interest in pubescent or post-pubescent teenagers. The terms ''[[hebephilia]]'' or ''[[ephebophilia]]'' may be more accurate in these cases.<ref name=mayoclinic/><ref name="www.usccb.org"/><ref name=britannica>{{Cite web|title=pedophilia|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9058932 |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref> This was especially seen in the case of [[Mark Foley]] during the [[Mark Foley congressional page incident|congressional page incident]]. Most of the media labeled Foley a pedophile, which led David Tuller of ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' magazine to state that Foley was not a pedophile but rather an ephebophile.<ref name="www.slate.com">{{cite news|first=David |last=Tuller|title=What To Call Foley. The congressman isn't a pedophile. He's an ephebophile|publisher=''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''|date=2006-10-04|accessdate=2010-10-17|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2151018/}}</ref>

Another common usage of ''pedophilia'' is to refer to the act of sexual abuse itself,<ref name="setovii" /> rather than the medical meaning, which is a ''preference'' for prepubescents on the part of the older individual (see [[#Prevalence and child molestation|§ prevalence and child molestation]] for an explanation of the distinction).<ref name="ames" /><ref name=lanning3e/> There are also situations where the terms are misused to refer to relationships where the younger person is an adult of legal age, but is either considered too young in comparison to their older partner, or the older partner occupies a position of authority over them.<ref name="www.huffingtonpost.com">{{Cite news| last = Guzzardi| first = Will| title = Andy Martin, GOP Senate Candidate, Calls Opponent Mark Kirk A "De Facto Pedophile" | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/andy-martin-gop-senate-ca_n_413624.html  | date = 2010-01-06| accessdate = 15 January 2010 | work=Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>Seligman, M. (1993). ''What you can change and what you can't'', page 235. New York: Fawcett Columbine.</ref> Researchers state that the above uses of the term ''pedophilia'' are imprecise or suggest that they are best avoided.<ref name="ames"/><ref name="www.usccb.org"/> The [[Mayo Clinic]] states that ''pedophilia'' "is not a criminal or legal term".<ref name=mayoclinic/>

==={{anchor|Pedophile advocacy groups}}Pedophile advocacy groups===
:''{{category see also|Pedophile activism}}''
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From the late 1950s to early 1990s, several pedophile membership organizations advocated [[age of consent reform]] to lower or abolish [[age of consent]] laws,<ref name=jenkins2006>{{Cite book|title=Decade of Nightmares: The End of the Sixties and the Making of Eighties America |first=Philip |last=Jenkins |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=120|isbn=0-19-517866-1}}</ref><ref name="spiegel">{{Cite book|title=Sexual Abuse of Males: The Sam Model of Theory and Practice |last= Spiegel |first=Josef |year=2003 |pages=5, p9 |publisher=Routledge |isbn= 1-56032-403-1}}</ref><ref name="Eichewald4">{{Cite news|author=Eichewald, Kurt |title=From Their Own Online World, Pedophiles Extend Their Reach|publisher=New York Times|date=August 21, 2006|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/21/technology/21pedo.html}}</ref> as well as for the acceptance of pedophilia as a [[sexual orientation]] rather than a [[psychological disorder]],<ref name="Bernard">{{Cite journal|title=The Dutch Paedophile Emancipation Movement |author= Dr. Frits Bernard, |journal=Paidika: the Journal of Paedophilia |volume= 1| issue = 2, (Autumn 1987), p. 35–4 |quote=Heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and paedophilia should be considered equally valuable forms of human behavior.}}</ref> and for the legalization of child pornography.<ref name="Eichewald4"/> The efforts of pedophile advocacy groups did not gain any public support<ref name=jenkins2006/><ref name="Eichewald4"/><ref name=jenkins1992>{{Cite book|title=Intimate Enemies: Moral Panics in Contemporary Great Britain |first=Philip |last=Jenkins |year=1992 |publisher=Aldine Transaction |page=75 |isbn=0-202-30436-1 |quote=In the 1970s, the pedophile movement was one of several fringe groups whose cause was to some extent espoused in the name of gay liberation.}}</ref><ref name=stanton>{{Cite book|title=Discourses of Sexuality: From Aristotle to AIDS |first=Domna C. |last=Stanton |year=1992 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |page=405|isbn= 0-472-06513-0}}</ref><ref name=hagan>{{Cite book|title=Deviance and the family |first=Domna C. |last= Hagan |author2=Marvin B. Sussman |year= 1988 |publisher=Haworth Press|page=131|isbn= 0-86656-726-7}}</ref> and today those few groups that have not dissolved have only minimal membership and have ceased their activities other than through a few websites.<ref name="Eichewald4"/><ref name=hagan/><ref>[[Benoit Denizet-Lewis]] (2001). "[http://web.archive.org/web/20050325090306/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/ArticleDisplay.php?id=27 Boy Crazy]", Boston Magazine.</ref><ref>Trembaly, Pierre (2002). [http://www.childtrafficking.com/Docs/trembaly_2002__social_inter.pdf "Social interactions among paedophiles"].</ref>

===Anti-pedophile activism===
{{Main|Anti-pedophile activism}}
Anti-pedophile activism encompasses opposition against pedophiles, against pedophile advocacy groups, and against other phenomena that are seen as related to pedophilia, such as child pornography and child sexual abuse.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/global_crime_report/investigation/cybercrime2.shtml Global Crime Report | Investigation | Child porn and the cybercrime treaty part 2 |BBC World Service]</ref> Much of the direct action classified as anti-pedophile involves demonstrations against sex offenders, against pedophiles advocating for the legalization of sexual activity between adults and children, and against Internet users who solicit sex from minors.<ref name="bbc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/872436.stm Families flee paedophile protests] August 9, 2000. Retrieved January 24, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?channel_id=1&story_id=30373 Dutch paedophiles set up political party], May 30, 2006. Retrieved Jan2008.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pjfi.org/ |title=The Perverted Justice Foundation Incorporated - A note from our foundation to you |publisher=[[Perverted-Justice]]|accessdate=March 16, 2012}}</ref><ref name="NYT06Dec">{{cite news |first=Allen |last=Salkin |authorlink=Allen Salkin |author2=Happy Blitt |title=Web Site Hunts Pedophiles and TV Goes Along |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07E2DB1531F930A25751C1A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, New York |date=2006-12-13 |accessdate=March 16, 2012|quote='Every waking minute he's on that computer,' said his mother, Mary Erck-Heard, 46, who raised her son after they fled his father, whom she described as alcoholic. Mr. Von Erck legally changed his name from Phillip John Eide, taking his maternal grandfather's family name, Erck, and adding the Von.}}</ref>

High-profile media attention to pedophilia has led to incidents of [[moral panic]], particularly following reports of pedophilia associated with [[satanic ritual abuse]] and [[day-care sex-abuse hysteria|day care sex abuse]].<ref name = Jewkes1>{{Cite book|author=Jewkes Y |title=Media and crime |publisher=Sage |location=Thousand Oaks, Calif |year=2004 |pages= [http://books.google.com/books?id=7rSICweU5QYC&pg=PA76 76–77] |isbn=0-7619-4765-5 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref> Instances of [[vigilante|vigilantism]] have also been reported in response to public attention on convicted or suspected child sex offenders. In 2000, following a media campaign of "[[name and shame|naming and shaming]]" suspected pedophiles in the UK, hundreds of residents took to the streets in protest against suspected pedophiles, eventually escalating to violent conduct requiring police intervention.<ref name="bbc" /> The Catholic church's [[Pope Francis]] estimated in 2014 that 2% of the clergy were pedophiles which was like "leprosy" infecting the church, and he promised to address the problem.<ref>13 July 2014, BBC News, [http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28282050 Pope Francis: 'About 2%' of Catholic clergy paedophiles], Accessed July 13, 2014</ref>

==In culture==
* The [[Vladimir Nabokov]] novel ''[[Lolita]]'' was controversial because of its theme featuring an adult man with a 12-year-old "[[nymphet]]" (a term he was said to have coined).
* ''[[The Woodsman]]'', starring [[Kevin Bacon]], chronicles the journey of a child molester towards understanding the impact of his actions.
* ''[[Are All Men Pedophiles?]]'' covers the topic of pedophilia and the misuse of medical terminology.

==See also==
* [[Age disparity in sexual relationships]]
*[[Child sexuality]]
*[[Child trafficking]]
* [[Circles of Support and Accountability]]
* [[Gerontophilia]]
* [[List of paraphilias]]
* [[Lolicon]]
* [[Nonce (slang)]]
* [[Prevention Project Dunkelfeld]]
* [[Virtuous Pedophiles]]

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==Further reading==
*[[Malcolm Gladwell|Gladwell, Malcolm]]. "[http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/09/24/120924crat_atlarge_gladwell In Plain View]." ("[[Jerry Sandusky]] and the Mind of a Pedophile") ''[[The New Yorker]]''. September 24, 2012.
*Philby, Charlotte. "[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/taboo-tolerance/female-sexual-abuse-the-untold-story-of-societys-last-taboo-1767688.html Female sexual abuse: The untold story of society's last taboo]." ''[[The Independent]]''. Saturday August 8, 2009.
*Bleyer, Jennifer. "[http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2012/09/stop_childhood_sexual_abuse_how_to_treat_pedophilia_.2.html How Can We Stop Pedophiles? Stop treating them like monsters.]" ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''. Monday September 24, 2012.
*Fong, Diana. Editor: Nancy Isenson. "[http://www.dw.de/if-im-attracted-to-children-i-must-be-a-monster/a-16727957 'If I'm attracted to children, I must be a monster']." ''[[Die Welt]]''. May 29, 2013.

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|pedophilia}}
{{Commonscat}}
*[http://individual.utoronto.ca/james_cantor/blog2.html Understanding MRI research on pedophilia]
*[http://www.justice.gov/opa/documents/ceos-delego-indictment-twitched.pdf ''Indictment from Operation Delego''] (PDF) ([http://www.webcitation.org/6J31oGnQQ Archive])
*[http://www.virped.org ''Virtuous Pedophiles,'' online support for non-offending pedophiles working to remain offence-free.]