Please Define Pedophile

[lawtonfogle]

Sooo..... I make one of these type threads a semester it seems, but I want to see you use your definition. No copy-paste from dictionaries or wikipedia or even the APA handbook itself.
For the sake of keeping this introduction unbiased, I am not posting my definition here.

Now, some people are probably wondering why in the world I am asking this... well recently I saw this word popping up in a number of discussions, and the usage was never consistent. So maybe may making a thread like this, we can come to some consistent 'CF' definition to go by.

Think about it this way. What if someone was confused between the labels of left and right concerning politics, or was sheltered and didn't really know anything about homosexuality, how would discussions and debates on those subjects turn out?

Oh, and please keep the definitions clean and don't activate any filters... thanks.

 

[trunks2k]

My definition of pedophilia is a person who is sexually attracted to pre-pubescent children. Child molestation does not necessarily mean pedophilia as the root cause of the molestation can sometimes be something other than sexual attraction to kids (i.e. wanting to cause a child pain). Pedophilia is more of a real sexual and emotional attraction to the child.

I do not use pedophilia to describe a person who is sexually attracted to post-pubescent children, simply because post-pubescent kids, while they may be emotionally immature, are sexually mature and physically broadcast that fact. Teen's bodies basically scream "I'm young, healthy and fertile" so it should not come as a surprise that people are sexually attracted to them.

 

[FaithLikeARock]

Oh, a pedophile is a homosexual (that's the common CF misconception).

Trunks is pretty much right on the money.

 

[Lisa0315]

A pedophile is someone who is sexually attracted to children and acts upon that. It is as much about control as it is about sex. Most pedophiles were sexually abused themselves, and the victims often become perpetrators later on.

Children should also be defined. See, an immature 17 year old boy could be attracted to a mature 14 year old girl and that is not pedophilia, but under the law would be treated as the same thing.

Lisa

 

[FaithLikeARock]

Actually, in my state a 17-year-old can legally be in a relationship with a 14-year-old and it's okay until the boy turns 18 (some states also have grace laws).

 

[jayem]

I do not use pedophilia to describe a person who is sexually attracted to post-pubescent children, simply because post-pubescent kids, while they may be emotionally immature, are sexually mature and physically broadcast that fact. Teen's bodies basically scream "I'm young, healthy and fertile" so it should not come as a surprise that people are sexually attracted to them.

True. And strictly speaking, sexual attraction to adolescents is termed ephebophilia. I've also seen the term hebephilia used to specify attraction to younger pubesent children, like in the 13-15 year old range. Evolution has made it is normal for people to be attracted to adolescents, as this would be a sensible reproductive strategy to mate with younger and presumably healthier partners.

It would be somewhat of a problem if an adult was exclusively attracted to adolescents, especially younger ones. But I don't think the DSM lists ephebophilia as a disorder.

 

[Lisa0315]

Actually, in my state a 17-year-old can legally be in a relationship with a 14-year-old and it's okay until the boy turns 18 (some states also have grace laws).

Yeah, it does vary state to state. Very true. Here in North Carolina, the boy's life would be ruined and he would have to register on the sex offender's list.

Lisa

 

[lawtonfogle]

Oh, a pedophile is a homosexual (that's the common CF misconception).

Trunks is pretty much right on the money.

no fair, you read then posted.

Or did I not say I wanted you to post then read?

A pedophile is someone who is sexually attracted to children and acts upon that.

Made it to the 4th post before a definition involving actual sexual actions came up...

 

[lawtonfogle]

Yeah, it does vary state to state. Very true. Here in North Carolina, the boy's life would be ruined and he would have to register on the sex offender's list.

Lisa

This is one of my biggest problems with current consent laws... the worst part is in 10+ years, anyone who didn't know the true story would think that he was nothing more than a child molester, and maybe act accordingly. Any Amber alerts and he would be suspect, any actual molestations and he would have to make a trip to the jail to give an alibi. Oh, and he would might as well be killed on the spot if he took his kids (assuming he ever had any) to school.

And the best part, had the female been the elder in the relationship, everyone would give a disapproving nod at the premarital relationships but give then when no one was looking say "That lucky guy." Actually, the treatment based on gender is about that distinct.

 

[Lisa0315]

no fair, you read then posted.

Or did I not say I wanted you to post then read?



Made it to the 4th post before a definition involving actual sexual actions came up...

Normal men look at girls who have reached puberty even if they are only 13 years old. They may look, catch themselves, and feel terrible about it. It is acting upon it that is the deviancy.

Lisa

 

[Lisa0315]

This is one of my biggest problems with current consent laws... the worst part is in 10+ years, anyone who didn't know the true story would think that he was nothing more than a child molester, and maybe act accordingly. Any Amber alerts and he would be suspect, any actual molestations and he would have to make a trip to the jail to give an alibi. Oh, and he would might as well be killed on the spot if he took his kids (assuming he ever had any) to school.

And the best part, had the female been the elder in the relationship, everyone would give a disapproving nod at the premarital relationships but give then when no one was looking say "That lucky guy." Actually, the treatment based on gender is about that distinct.

As the mother of a 17 year old boy, I agree. I am scared to death he will meet some girl who lies about her age, fall in love, and end up in jail and on a sex offender's list.

Lisa

 

[Polycarp_fan]

Think about it this way. What if someone was confused between the labels of left and right concerning politics, or was sheltered and didn't really know anything about homosexuality, how would discussions and debates on those subjects turn out?

Oh, and please keep the definitions clean and don't activate any filters... thanks.

It is what is taught or learned.

I wanted to go to Cleveland.

At first I was heading to San Antonio. I didn't know how to get to Cleveland until someone showed me. THEY oriented me.

One person lied to me and tried me to get into bed with him, saying that Cleveland was a sex act. I opposed this and he said that he had always felt that Cleveland was a sex act and that hsi inner-feelings couldn't be wrong. I didn't buy that because I have genitals and know what they are for. I've studied biology and physiology. They are not for getting to Cleveland. Another lied to me because she was also mean and wanted to see me stumble around in darkeness.

Finally, an honest (experienced) person showed me and told me "the way" because there was a right way and a wrong way to go. They knew the right way because they also rejected the liars and sought the truth and followed it for themselves.

 

[lawtonfogle]

Normal men look at girls who have reached puberty even if they are only 13 years old. They may look, catch themselves, and feel terrible about it. It is acting upon it that is the deviancy.

Lisa

Actually, from what I have seen (and what you have seen if you have ever seen commercials) many of the beauty product out are to make women have more childish (meaning 7-15) qualities such as soft skin and smooth hair. As such, many men will glance even at those 13 year old females who haven't reached puberty yet before the whole That's a child pops into their head.

A better... subject to definition of the word better... way of looking at it is that there is (and I know this isn't always the case) some attraction to 'purer' females, shown easily is how '[wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth]' in an insult but 'pimp' is often used as a compliment. And what is more purer than... well you get the point.

 

[lawtonfogle]

It is what is taught or learned.

I wanted to go to Cleveland.

At first I was heading to San Antonio. I didn't know how to get to Cleveland until someone showed me. THEY oriented me.

One person lied to me and tried me to get into bed with him, saying that Cleveland was a sex act. I opposed this and he said that he had always felt that Cleveland was a sex act and that hsi inner-feelings couldn't be wrong. I didn't buy that because I have genitals and know what they are for. I've studied biology and physiology. They are not for getting to Cleveland. Another lied to me because she was also mean and wanted to see me stumble around in darkeness.

Finally, an honest (experienced) person showed me and told me "the way" because there was a right way and a wrong way to go. They knew the right way because they also rejected the liars and sought the truth and followed it for themselves.

Nani wa iimasu ka.

(aka, say what?, or at least the closest thing to 'say what?' I know)

 

[lawtonfogle]

As the mother of a 17 year old boy, I agree. I am scared to death he will meet some girl who lies about her age, fall in love, and end up in jail and on a sex offender's list.

Lisa

As long as he gets to know he parents before ever passing the holding hands stage (yes, even kissing can be dangerous depending upon how good a prosecutor comes your way), he should be quite safe.

 

[PetersKeys]

Sooo..... I make one of these type threads a semester it seems, but I want to see you use your definition. No copy-paste from dictionaries or wikipedia or even the APA handbook itself.
For the sake of keeping this introduction unbiased, I am not posting my definition here.

Now, some people are probably wondering why in the world I am asking this... well recently I saw this word popping up in a number of discussions, and the usage was never consistent. So maybe may making a thread like this, we can come to some consistent 'CF' definition to go by.

Think about it this way. What if someone was confused between the labels of left and right concerning politics, or was sheltered and didn't really know anything about homosexuality, how would discussions and debates on those subjects turn out?

Oh, and please keep the definitions clean and don't activate any filters... thanks.

a person sexually and emotionally attracted to pre-pubescent children. Lotsa factors can cause it, such as child abuse, divorce, social problems, drugs, etc. A good amount of pedofiles were themselves abused. Just like homosexuality, pedofilia is not a born trait, but rather aggrevated by enviornmental and social factors

 

[Washington]

Most pedophiles were sexually abused themselves, and the victims often become perpetrators later on.

Not quite.

Several studies of pedophilia were conducted by Greenberg, Bradford, and Curry (1993) in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa, Canada. They studied 135 pedophiles and 43 hebephiles who admitted to their offenses. Hebephiles preferred children who were between 13 and 16 years of age, whereas pedophiles chose children 12 years old or younger as their victims. Among the perpetrators, 33% chose only boys, 44% chose only girls, and 23% had sexually abused both boys and girls. In response to questioning, 42% of the pedophiles and 44% of the hebephiles claimed to have been sexually abused in their own childhood. Members of both groups appeared to choose victims in accordance with their own ages at the time of their experience as sexual victims.
source
​

And, FYI

Pedophila: A condition in which an adult, usually male, is sexually attracted primarily to pre-pubertal children -- those aged 13 years or under.

Hebephilia (Pederasty): A condition in which an adult, usually male, is sexually attracted to post-pubertal adolescents (14 to 17).

Ephebophila: A condition in which an adult, usually male, is sexually attracted to young people about the age of puberty. It is sometimes used as a synonym for "hebephilia."

Infantophilia: A rare form of pedophilia in which the primary interest is a child 24 month or younger.
source
​

 

[SughaNSpice]

a person sexually and emotionally attracted to pre-pubescent children. Lotsa factors can cause it, such as child abuse, divorce, social problems, drugs, etc. A good amount of pedofiles were themselves abused. Just like homosexuality, pedofilia is not a born trait, but rather aggrevated by enviornmental and social factors

Did I miss someone proving homosexuality is something that is learned?

 

[Lisa0315]

Not quite.

Several studies of pedophilia were conducted by Greenberg, Bradford, and Curry (1993) in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa, Canada. They studied 135 pedophiles and 43 hebephiles who admitted to their offenses. Hebephiles preferred children who were between 13 and 16 years of age, whereas pedophiles chose children 12 years old or younger as their victims. Among the perpetrators, 33% chose only boys, 44% chose only girls, and 23% had sexually abused both boys and girls. In response to questioning, 42% of the pedophiles and 44% of the hebephiles claimed to have been sexually abused in their own childhood. Members of both groups appeared to choose victims in accordance with their own ages at the time of their experience as sexual victims.
source
​

And, FYI

Pedophila: A condition in which an adult, usually male, is sexually attracted primarily to pre-pubertal children -- those aged 13 years or under.

Hebephilia (Pederasty): A condition in which an adult, usually male, is sexually attracted to post-pubertal adolescents (14 to 17).

Ephebophila: A condition in which an adult, usually male, is sexually attracted to young people about the age of puberty. It is sometimes used as a synonym for "hebephilia."

Infantophilia: A rare form of pedophilia in which the primary interest is a child 24 month or younger.
source
​

hmm...Admittedly, the information I based mine on is about 15 years old and was done by interviewing a prison population. It was roughly 80%, but then, they may have been coached by their attorney's to say that.

Lisa

 

[quatona]

Sooo..... I make one of these type threads a semester it seems, but I want to see you use your definition. No copy-paste from dictionaries or wikipedia or even the APA handbook itself.
For the sake of keeping this introduction unbiased, I am not posting my definition here.

Now, some people are probably wondering why in the world I am asking this... well recently I saw this word popping up in a number of discussions, and the usage was never consistent. So maybe may making a thread like this, we can come to some consistent 'CF' definition to go by.

Someone who is sexually attracted to children.

Think about it this way. What if someone was confused between the labels of left and right concerning politics, or was sheltered and didn't really know anything about homosexuality, how would discussions and debates on those subjects turn out?

Err, what?