Arch Sex Behav DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9882-6
ORIGINAL PAPER
Is Pedophilia a Sexual Orientation? Michael C. Seto
Ó
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011
Abstract In this article, I address the question of whether pedoph pedophili iliaa in mencan be constr construedas uedas a male male sexua sexuall orient orientati ation on,, and the implications for thinking of it in this way for scientific research research,, clinical clinicalprac practice tice,, andpubl and public ic policy. policy. I begin begin by defining defining pedophil pedophilia ia and sexual sexual orientat orientation, ion,and and then compare compare pedophili pedophiliaa (as a potential sexual orientation with regard to age) to sexual orientat orientations ions with regard regard to gender gender (heteros (heterosexua exuality, lity, bisexual bisexuality, ity, and homosexuality), on the bases of age of onset, correlations with sexual and romantic behavior, and stability over time. I conclude with comments about the potential social and legal implications of conceptualizing pedophilia as a type of sexual orientation in males. Keywords Pedophilia Á Paraphilia Á Sexual preferences Á Sexual orientation
Introduction
Why does the question—whether pedophilia is a sexual orientation—ma tation—matter tter?? Answerin Answering g the question question of whether whether pedophili pedophiliaa in men is a sexual age orientation (or sexual orientation with regard regard to age)has implicatio implications ns for science, science, clinical clinicalprac practice tice,, and publ public ic poli policy cy.. I will will focu focuss my comm commen ents ts on men, men, beca becaus usee most most knownpedophilesaremale,andIwillrelyonresearchinvolving male male parti particip cipan ants. ts. Pedop Pedophil hilia ia appea appears rs to be rare rare among among women women,, and sex differences in sexual response and behavior suggest pedophilia may manifest differently in women (Chivers, Seto, & Blanchard, Blanchard, 2007 2007;; Diamond, 2008 2008;; Seto, 2008 2008). ).
For science science,, the answer answer influence influencess researchquestio researchquestions ns about about etiology etiology and developm development ent of sexual sexual age interest interests. s. Sexual (heterosexual or non-heterosexual non-heterosexual prefergender orientation (heterosexual ences) is typically experienced as something one begins to discover discover about about oneself oneself in early early puberty, puberty, rather rather than somethin something g one acquires as a result of developmental or environmental processes. An increasing body of research has revealed that prenatal factors (e.g., as indicated by the fraternal birth order effectand effect and greaternon-right-handedness)influence greaternon-right-handedness)influence sexualgensexual gender orientation and has identified neuroanatomical and other biological biological correlates correlates (Mustanski, (Mustanski, Chivers, Chivers, & Bailey, Bailey, 2002 2002;; Wilson Wilson & Rahman, 2005 2005). ). Recent research suggests some interesting similarities, and differences, in the neurobiological correlates of pedophili pedophiliaa (see Cantor, Cantor, submitte submitted). d). For clinica clinicall practice practice,, the answer answer shapes shapes our hypothese hypothesess and approach approaches es about about assessment assessment,, prognosis, prognosis,and andtreatm treatment. ent.Sexua Sexuall gender gender orientationis orientationis oftenviewed as inna innate te;; it can can be asse assess ssed ed throu through gh selfself-re repo port rt,, reac reacti tion on time time,, and and genital genital response; response; and reorientatio reorientation n therapies therapies have not worked worked for homose homosexua xuall men, men, sugges suggesting ting interve interventio ntions ns may be able able to change change sexual arousal patterns or even behavior without changing the underlyi underlying ng preferen preferences ces (Dresche (Drescherr & Zucker, Zucker,2006 2006). ). Finall Finally, y, for public public policy policy,, perhap perhapss most most contro controver versia sially, lly,the the answer answermay mayaff affect ect societal perceptions and may have implications for criminal and civil law. Anti-discrimination laws and policies refer to sexual orient orientati ation, on,butwith butwith theimp the implic licit it unders understan tandin ding g that that oneis one is referr referring ing to sexual gender orientation. But what might happen if the definition of sexual orientation were to expand to include sexual age prefer preferenc ences es such such as pedoph pedophilia ilia??
Definitions M. C. Seto (&) Integrated Forensic Program, Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, 1804 Highway 2 East, Brockville, ON K6V 5W7, Canada e-mail:
[email protected]
Before Before addressin addressing g the evidenceregardi evidenceregarding ng pedophil pedophilia ia as a sexual sexual orien orientat tation ion,, it is import importan antt to define define terms. terms. First, First, pedophil pedophilia ia can be defined as a sexual attraction to prepubescent children, as
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indicate indicated d by persisten persistentt and recurren recurrentt sexual sexual thoughts thoughts,, fantasie fantasies, s, urges, arousal, or behavior (‘ (‘‘or’’ ‘or’’ because the diagnosis can be made on the basis of thoughts and urges alone, for example).1 The prevalence of pedophilia (based on diagnosis, objective testing, testing, or self-report) self-report) in samples of child pornogra pornography phy offendoffenders or sexual offenders with child victims is much higher (50– 65%) than it could possibly be in the general population (Seto, 2008;; Seto, Cantor, & Blanchard, 2006 2008 2006). ). Though large-scale epidemi demiol olog ogic ical al data data are are not not avai availa labl ble, e, Seto Seto (2008 2008)) revie reviewe wed d a rang rangee of studies and suggested that non-representative samples point to an upperupper-limi limitt preval prevalenc encee of 5% in men. men. Forexa For example mple,, anonym anonymous ous survey surveyss have have found foundtha thatt 3–4% 3–4% ofcol of colleg lege-a e-agedmen gedmenadm admit itto tohav having ing had sexual contact with a prepubescent girl (Ahlers et al., 2011 2011;; Smith, 1994 1994); ); Fromuth, Burkhart and Jones (1991 (1991)) specified that the resp respon onde dent nt was was 16 or olde olderr when when the sexu sexual al cont contac actt occu occurr rred ed,, ruling out peer contacts. As another example, Briere and Runtz (1989 1989)) found that 5% masturbated to sexual fantasies about children (age unspecified). Not all of these men were pedophiles, however, however, because the researchers researchers did not ask questions questions about persistence persistence or intensity. intensity. Second, Second, male sexual orientation can can be defin defined ed as the the dire direcction(s) tion(s) of a maleperson’s maleperson’s sexual sexual thoughts thoughts,, fantasies fantasies,, urges, urges, arousal, arousal, and behavior; behavior; the Oxford Oxford English English Dictionar Dictionary y (2011 2011)) defines defines orient orientati ation on as‘‘th as‘‘thee relati relative ve positi position on or direct direction ion of somesomething.’ thing.’’Peop ’People le aremost are mostfamil familiar iarwiththe withthe ideaof sexual sexual orientatio orientation n as it applies to gender: Heterosexual individuals are primarily oriente oriented d toward towardss opposit opposite-s e-sex ex person persons, s, homosex homosexual ual individ individual ualss are primarily oriented towards same-sex persons, and bisexual individuals are attracted to both men and women. Other labels have also been used to self-identify self -identify (e.g., ‘‘queer,’’‘ ‘queer,’’‘‘gay’ ‘gay’’’); these self-identity labels overlap with male homosexual and heterosexual orientations, orientations, but they are not the same constructs. constructs. I purposefully purposefully used the conjunction‘‘and’ conjunction‘‘and’’’ in the definition definition of sexual orientation because these different expressions of sexual sexual interestare interestare usually usually coherent coherent in men.It is highly highly unusual unusual for a man to have sexual thoughts, fantasies, and urges about
other men, for example, but to be most sexually aroused and pursue sexual activities with women. Though a homosexual man might might engage engage in heterosex heterosexual ual relations relationships hipsand and evenmarry a woman because of prejudice and sociolegal restrictions against same-s same-sex exrel relatio ationsh nships ips,, theabo the above vevie view w ofsex of sexualorient ualorientatio ation n would would nonetheless predict that much of his sexuality would still involve men (e.g., having sexual fantasies about men, viewing pornography depicting males, extra-marital liaisons with men) (see Beckstead, submitted). submitted).
Aspects Aspects of Sexual Sexual Orientat Orientation ion
In the following section, I very briefly comment on sexual genderori der orient entati ation on with with regard regardto to ageof age of onset, onset,cor correl relatio ations ns with with sexual sexual and and roma romant ntic ic beha behavi vior or,, and and stabil stability ity over over time time,, to esta establ blis ish h a basis basis for comparison with pedophilia as a potential sexual age orientation. Age of Onset Aware Awarenes nesss of one’s one’s sexua sexuall gender gender orient orientati ation on typica typically lly emerges befor beforee theonset theonset of puber pubertyand tyand can can be desc describ ribedas edas a proce process ss of discovery, with an awareness of sexual interest in males or females females precedi preceding ng sexual sexual behavio behaviorr or self-ide self-identifi ntificati cation on (McClin(McClintock & Herdt, 1996 1996;; Remafedi, Resnick, Blum, & Harris, 1992 1992;; Savin-W Savin-Willia illiams ms & Diamond Diamond,, 2000 2000). ). Sexual and Romantic Behavior Among men, there is a large difference in the sexual histories and romanti romanticc partne partnerr choice choicess of self-ide self-identifi ntified ed heteros heterosexu exual al and homose homosexua xuall men. men. In particu particular,homose lar,homosexua xuall menare much much more likely to have had same-sex partners, partners, especially when less constrained strained by social social and legal legal obstacl obstacles; es; the orienta orientation tion differe difference nce betwee between n heteros heterosexu exual al andhomosexu andhomosexual al menis men is smallerfor smallerfor female female partners (Chandra, Mosher, Copen, & Sionean, 2011 2011). ).
1
Clinical definitions usually require distress or impairment if pedophilia is to be considered a mental disorder (e.g., the DSM-IV-TR) (American Psychiatric Association, 2000 2000), ), but not ICD-10, ICD-10, which which consid considers ers the sexual attraction to prepubescent children to be sufficient (World Health Organization, 1997 1997). ). I will not enter the debate about whether pedophilia should, should, or should should not,be classifie classified d as a mental mental disorder,in disorder,in thiscommentary thiscommentary.. InterestedreadersaredirectedtotheDecember2002issueinthe Archivesof Archivesof Sexual Sexual Behavior Behavior for for comment commentarie ariess on this debate debate (e.g., (e.g., Seto, Seto, 2002 2002,, wher wheree I argue argue pedoph pedophili iliaa shouldbe shouldbe a menta mentall disord disorder er). ). Formy purpos purposes,the es,the sexual sexual attrac attractio tion n part part of the definit definition ion is the key consid considera eratio tion n in operat operation ionali alizin zing g pedoph pedophili ilia. a. There There hasbeenrecent hasbeenrecent debateaboutthe debateaboutthe existe existenceof nceof hebephilia hebephilia, a sexual age orientation for pubescent children, that is, children who are beginn beginningto ingto show show signsof signsof physic physical al matur maturitysuchas itysuchas breastbudd breastbuddingin ingin girls girls or changes in the scrotum and penis for boys (Blanchard, 2010 2010;; Franklin, 2009;; Seto, 2010 2009 2010). ). There is no word coined yet for individuals who are attractedto attractedto both mature mature and immature immature persons. persons. DSM-IV DSM-IV-TR -TR refers refers to such individuals as nonexclusive pedophiles, but one could also call them nonexclusive exclusive teleiophiles teleiophiles (American (AmericanPsychi Psychiatric atric Association Association,,2000 2000). ). The Greek Greek root root for age is aion, so one word word that could apply apply is bi-aionic.
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Stability over Time Male Male sexual sexual gende genderr orien orientat tation ion is usuall usually y viewe viewed d as stable stable over over time and situations, though it is not required as part of the definitio inition n (and (and does does not not appear appear to correc correctt for female female sexua sexuall gender gender orientation)(see Diamond,2008 Diamond,2008). ). Effor Efforts ts to chang changee male male sexual sexual gender orientation have consistently failed; though temporary changes in sexual arousal can occur through behavioral conditioning techniques, probably by increasing voluntary control over sexual arousal (though see Conrade & Wincze, 1976 1976), ), there there is no convin convincin cing g evide evidence nce that that sexual sexual thoug thoughts hts,, fantas fantasies ies,, urges, arousal, and behavior change in the long-term (though there is ongoing debate about ‘‘reorientation’ ‘reorientation’’ or ‘‘conversion’ ‘conversion’’ therapie therapiess to change change homosexu homosexual al to heterose heterosexualorientat xualorientation; ion;see see Beckstea Beckstead, d, submitted submitted;; Drescher Drescher & Zucker, Zucker, 2006 2006). ). Focusi Focusing ng on
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heterosexuality, heterosexuality, there is no evidence that heterosexual heterosexual individuals uals chan change ge thei theirr orie orient ntat atio ion n over over time time,, such such that that a man man with with an extens extensive ive histor history y of sexual sexual intera interacti ctions ons involv involving ing women women and a long-ter long-term m marriage marriage subseque subsequently ntly becomes becomes sexually sexually (or romanromantically) attracted to another man.
Is Pedophi Pedophilia lia a Sexual Sexual Orientat Orientation? ion?
By the above definition of sexual orientation—and most commondefinit mon definitions ionsof of sexualorientation—pedoph sexualorientation—pedophilia iliacan canbe be viewed as a sexual age orientation based on the more limited evidence availab available le regard regarding ing its age of onset, onset, associa association tionss with with sexual sexual and romantic behavior, and stability over time. Though there are clearly clearly differe difference ncess in some some respect respects, s, there there are also strikin striking g similarities in the research literature on pedophilia. Age of Onset Self-re Self-repor portt is less straigh straightfor tforwar ward d than for heteros heterosexu exual al (or even even homosexual, homosexual, in contemporary contemporary research in North American and Western Western Europe European an countr countries) ies) respond respondent entss given given the stigma stigma associated associated with pedophilia, but some individuals acknowledge acknowledge an early early onse onsett of sexu sexual al inte intere rest st in child children ren that that prec preced edes es sexua sexuall behavio behaviorr involvi involving ng childre children n or self-id self-ident entific ificati ation on as a pedoph pedophile. ile. For example, some studies of identified offenders find that a substa substantia ntiall minorit minority y admitte admitted d an onset onset of sexual sexual interes interestt in children children before adulthood adulthood (Abel et al., 1987 1987;; Freund & Kuban, 1993;; Marshal 1993 Marshall, l, Barbar Barbaree, ee, & Eccles, Eccles, 1991 1991). ). Dandesc Dandescu u and Wolfe(2003 Wolfe(2003)) found foundthattwo-th thattwo-thirdsof irdsof their their sample sample of sexoffendsexoffenders with child victims reported that they had ‘‘deviant sexual fantasies’ fantasies’’’ before committing their first offense. offense. One-quarter One-quarter of Bernard’s Bernard’s (1985 1985)) small small sample sample of self-ide self-identifi ntified ed pedoph pedophiles iles were aware of their sexual interest in children before the age of 15. 15. Memo Memoirs irs and and case case repo reports rts also also indic indicat atee an early early age age of onse onsett (Li, 1991 1991). ). As with non-he non-hetero terosex sexual ual gender gender orientat orientations ions,, some individ individual ualss choose choose to reveal reveal their their pedoph pedophilic ilic orient orientatio ation n to famil family y and and close close frien friends, ds, but but this this is likely likely an even even more more diffic difficul ultt process because of the much greater stigma associated with sexual attraction or involvement with children. There is little empirical information, however, about the self-identities, disclosures, closures, and quality of life of pedophilic individuals. individuals. Sexual and Romantic Behavior Pedophilia is associated with sexual behavior involving children. Some studies have found that some pedophilic sexual offender offenderss (in particula particular, r, those those who select select unrelated unrelated boys) boys) score higher higher on measures measures of emotiona emotionall congruen congruence ce withchild with children ren than other other sexual sexual offender offenderss (Underhi (Underhill, ll, Wakelin Wakeling, g, Mann, Mann, & Webster, Webster, 2008;; Wilson, 1999 2008 1999). ). Finkelho Finkelhorr (1984 (1984)) defined emotional congruence with children as the extent to which sex with a child fulfilled fulfilledemoti emotional onalneed needs. s. Emotionalcongruen Emotionalcongruence ce canalso can alsoinclu include de
the degree to which someone prefers the company of children, enjoys enjoys childchild-ori orient ented ed activi activitie ties, s, and feels feels his emotio emotional nal and intiintimacy needs can be met by children (Wilson, 1999 1999). ). Some pedophiles not only seek sexual contacts with children, but seek romant romantic ic relati relation onshi ships ps with with them. them. For examp example, le, Li (1991 1991)) interinterviewed 27 pedophiles and found that many characterized their contacts contacts with children as part of loving relationships. Wilson and Cox (1983 (1983)) interviewed 77 members of the Paedophile Infor Informa matio tion n Excha Exchange nge in the Unite United d King Kingdo dom, m, and and foun found d that that more respondents characterized characterized their relationships relationships with children as affectionate, affectionate,loving,intimate, loving,intimate, and‘‘close’ and‘‘close’’( ’(n 25)than asgenitally-oriented( n 18).Somerespondent 18).Somerespondentss claimedtheir claimedtheir relation relationship shipss with children children were were platonic platonic,, suggesti suggesting ng that sexual attraction was not the primary motivation. Other individuals might not have sexual contacts with children, but will view view nude nude or sexu sexuall ally y expli explici citt depic depictio tions ns of child childre ren n (Neu (Neutze tze,, Seto, Schaefer, Mundt, & Beier, 2011 2011;; Riegel, 2004 2004;; Seto et al., 2006 2006). ). There is little other research exploring the emotional aspects of adult–child contacts, from the adult’s perspective. =
=
Stability over Time Pedophili Pedophiliaa is viewed viewed by many researchers researchers and clinicians clinicians as having a lifelong course. For some individuals, at least, it is discoveredinearlyadolescenceandsexualinterestinchildrencanbe detected in adolescence (Seto, Lalumie`re, & Blanchard, 2000 2000;; Seto, Seto, Murphy Murphy,, Page, Page, & Ennis, Ennis, 2003 2003); ); once once identi identified fied,, pedoph pedophili iliaa can predict detected sexual behavior involving children up to 40 years later (Hanson, (Hanson, Steffy, Steffy, & Gauthier, Gauthier, 1993 1993). ). Changes in sexual arousal to children can be made using behavioral conditioning techniques, but follow-up studies have not shown evidence dence that this change change generalize generalizess outside outside the laboratory laboratory or persists persists over the longer-term. longer-term. Some investigators have suggested there is evidence that pedophilic preferences can change (see Marshall, 2008 2008). ). For example,Marshal example,Marshalll (1997 1997)) examinedpre-po examinedpre-post st treatmen treatmentt changes changes in sexu sexual al arou arousa sall to chil childr dren en in a grou group p of 12 offe offend nder erss who who had had shown greater sexual arousal to children than to adults when initia initially lly assess assessed, ed, had multip multiple le child child victim victims, s, and and whohad been been diagnosed by a forensic psychiatrist as having pedophilia. He found that this selected group of pedophilic offenders showed lower sexual arousal to children than to adults when assessed after treatment, even though treatment focused on intimacy, relationship skills and self-esteem, rather than modification of sexual arousal patterns. There are not sufficient longitudinal data, data, however, however, to draw strong strong conclusi conclusions ons about about long-term long-term change at this time. Follow-up research has found that pretreatm treatment ent assess assessmen ments ts of sexual sexual arousa arousall are a better better predic predictor tor of sexual recidivism than post-treatment assessments, suggesting that any treatment-related changes in sexual arousal patterns dissipate over time (Harris, Quinsey, & Rice, 1991 1991). ). Viewing pedoph pedophili iliaa as a sexual sexual orien orientat tation ion would would sugges suggestt that that treatm treatmen entt
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is more more likelyto likelyto be effect effectiveif iveif it focuse focusess onself-reg onself-regula ulatio tion n skills skills (in order order to effectiv effectively ely manage manage pedophi pedophilic lic urges, urges, thoughts thoughts,, etc.) etc.) than on trying to change sexual preferences (Beckstead, submitted; Drescher & Zucker, 2006 2006). ).
female
Heterosexual Teleiophile
Modular Modular Preferen Preferences: ces: Gender Gender and Age Orientat Orientations ions
The The strong strongest est test test of sexua sexuall orient orientati ation on is whom whom a personwoul personwould d choose choose in a hypot hypothe hetic tical al situat situation ion where where they they could could freely freely have have sex, without negative consequences, when presented with the alternate choices: man or woman, adult or child. Teleiophilic individuals (to use a term coined by Blanchard) would choose physically mature persons and pedophilic individuals would choose prepubescent children. Androphilic (homosexual teleiophilic) men would choose other men and gynephilic (heterosexual teleiophilic) men would choose women.2 Sexual age and gender orientation can be viewed as dissociable in men (see Fig. 1; Blanchard, 2010 2010;; also, Quinsey & Lalumie`re,1995 re, 1995,, describ described ed a male male sexual sexualpre prefere ferencesystem ncesystemtha thatt would contain different mental modules attending to different gend gender er and and age age cues) cues).. Wheth Whether er some someon onee is sexu sexual ally ly attra attracte cted d to children or to adults is partially independent of whether he is sexuall sexually y attract attracted ed to males males or female females. s. These These dimensio dimensions ns are not completely orthogonal because pedophilic individuals distinguish less between boys and girls than teleiophiles distinguish between between men and women, possibly reflecting reflecting the fact that boys and and girl girlss diff differ er less less in term termss of body body size size and and shap shapee than than do men men and women. Secondary sexual development (breasts, axillary andpub and pubic ic hair, hair, size size andsha and shape pe of externa externall genital genitalia) ia)als also o provid provides es more cues about gender when examining adults.
Final Comment
I have focused on the scientific and clinical implications of conceptualizing pedophilia as a sexual orientation in this brief artic article le.. But But what what abou aboutt the the legal legal and and socia sociall implic implicat atio ions ns?? In parparticular ticular,, what what impact impact might mightthe there re bein be incon concep ceptua tualizi lizingpedoph ngpedophilia ilia as a sexu sexual al age age orien orienta tatio tion, n, base based d on empi empiric rical al evide evidenc nce, e, akin akin to sexual gender orientation such as heterosexuality or homosexuality? For example, there are anti-discrimination anti-discrimination laws or policies that specifically specifically mention‘‘sexua mention‘‘sexuall orientation’ orientation’’as grounds grounds for redres redress. s. The The make makers rs of thes thesee laws laws and and poli policie ciess surel surely y had had sexua sexuall gender orientation orientation in mind, not sexual age orientation. orientation. It is impo import rtan antt to emph emphas asiz izee here here that that I am not not equa equati ting ng thes thesee gender gender and age orientatio orientations. ns. Homosexu Homosexuality ality continues continues to be 2
The order order of these adjectives adjectives describin describing g sexual sexual preferen preferences ces could easily easily be reversed; for example, a man attracted to prepubescent girls could be correctly correctly describe described d as either either a‘‘gynep a‘‘gynephilic hilic pedophile’ pedophile’’or a‘‘pedop a‘‘pedophilic hilic gynephile’ nephile’’(I thankone of the anonymousreview anonymousreviewers ers forthis point). point). An imporimportant tant empir empirica icall questi question on is whethe whetherr sexual sexual gender gender prefer preferenc ences es or sexual sexual age preferences preferences have primacy.
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senior
infant
Homosexual Pedophile
male
Fig.1 Fig.1 Male modular modular person person preference preferencess system. system. Asexual Asexual persons persons (espousing no particular sexual attraction to others) could be placed at theoriginof theoriginof this this two-ax two-axissyste issystem.Otheraxescoul m.Otheraxescould d beaddedto repres represent ent otherpersoncharacteristi otherpersoncharacteristics cs thatmay be ofinterest,includingbody shape and size, but gender and age are two of the most fundamental person characteristics
negatively sanctioned in a variety of ways, but social changes have have occurre occurred, d, includ includingthe ingthe legal legal rights rights of marriag marriagee or civil civil unions unions in Canada and several other countries, recognition of same-sex partner benefits, and the inclusion of sexual gender orientation in anti-dis anti-discrimi criminati nation on policiesand policiesand laws. laws. In myopin my opinion,these ion,theseare are signs signs of progre progress:I ss:I am genera generallyoppo llyopposedto sedto discri discrimin minati ation,and on,and I believe believethatmutuall thatmutually y consenti consenting ng sexbetw sex betweenadults eenadults should should not be subject to legal or other discrimination. Pedophilia, on the other other hand, hand, involv involves es sexbetweenan sexbetweenan adult adult and and a child child who who is not legally able to consent. There are substantial asymmetries in cognitive ability, psychosexual development, and autonomy that that are not usuall usually y presen presentt in sexual sexual interac interactio tions ns betwee between n conconsenting adults. I would still consider it no particular concern of mine mine if adul adultt pedo pedoph phil iles es advo advoca cate ted d for for the the free freedo dom m to have have sex sex with other adult pedophiles. They do not, however, and I think there is often a self-serving motive in adult statements supportive of adult–child sex.3 Given the anxiety and fear elicited by pedophiles in contemporary societies, it is highly unlikely that citizens would support the expansion of legal and civil rights to other sexual orientations. Nonetheless, this challenging and complex discussio cussion n needs needs to take take place. place.Acc Accept epting ing that that pedoph pedophili iliaa is a sexual sexual orientatio orientation n akinto akin toheter heterosex osexualityor ualityor homosexua homosexuality,rather lity,ratherthana thana prefer preferenc encee that that is chosen chosen or someho somehow w learne learned, d, may influen influence ce the direction of this discussion. Pedophilia is unlikely ever to be accepted, given its behavioral manifestations involve the sexual exploitation of children, but can it be tolerated when it is not accompanied by criminal actions? This may seem far-fetched
3
I realize realize that adults have have more opportu opportunities nities to speak speak and be heard, heard, at leastby leastby otheradult otheradults,but s,but I have have neverhear neverheard d (direc (directlyor tlyor indire indirectl ctly)a y)a child child speak on behalf of his or her right to have sex with an adult.
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given the current current prevailin prevailing g views of pedophilia pedophilia and sexual sexual offending offending against against children children (see Jenkins, Jenkins, 1998 1998), ), but there are examples of Dutch and other European pedophile groups that were at least tolerated in the 1970s and 1980s (e.g., Des Sables, 1976;; O’Carroll 1976 O’Carroll,, 1980 1980;; Pieterse, Pieterse,1982 1982;; Rouweler-Wuts,1976 Rouweler-Wuts,1976;see ;see also online online forums forums such as Girlchat and Boychat ). ). Our Our effort effortss to respo respond nd to pedop pedophil hilia ia andthe assoc associat iated ed social social problems of sexual child exploitation—through child pornography, sex tourism, juvenile prostitution, and child sexual abuse—require a more compassionate and less discriminatory treatment of pedophiles (see Seto, 2008 2008). ). Currently, treatment and support services are mostly available to individuals who have have been been charg charged ed or convic convicted ted of sexua sexuall offen offenses ses agains againstt chilchildren. dren. Few resource resourcess are available availableto to help-see help-seeking kingpedo pedophil philes. es. A notabl notablee except exception ion is the Dunke Dunkelfe lfeld ld Projec Projectt in Germa Germany, ny, which which used mass media campaigns to advertise clinical services for help-seeking, self-identified pedophiles and hebephiles (Beier et al., al., 2009 2009). ). Many Many of these these indivi individu dualshad alshad notbeen detec detectedby tedby authoriti authorities es for their their pedoheb pedohebephi ephilic lic behavio behavior, r, yet many (not all) had accessed child pornography or had sexual contacts with children(Neutzeet children(Neutzeet al.,2011 al., 2011). ). Other Other organiza organizationssuch tionssuch as B4UB4UACT ACT and and Stop Stop It Now! Now! Also Also provid providee referr referral al and and other other servic services es to self-identified pedophilic or hebephilic individuals. Pedophileswillrema phileswillremainhidde inhidden n if they they conti continueto nueto behatedandfeared, behatedandfeared, which would impede efforts to better understand this sexual orientation and thereby prevent child sexual exploitation. Acknowledgments A version of this article was presented at the University versity of Lethbrid Lethbridge ge Workshop Workshop,‘‘ ,‘‘The The Puzzle Puzzle of Sexual Sexual Orientat Orientation: ion: What Is It and How Does It Work?’’, held in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, June 2010. It does not represent the positions of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Groupor Groupor of anyof theuniversi theuniversitie tiess with with which which I’m I’m affilia affiliated ted.. I would would like like to thankJames Cantor, Cantor, MeredithChivers MeredithChivers,, Grant Grant Harris, Harris, and Vern Vern Quinsey Quinsey for their helpful comments on earlier versions of this article.
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