Learn More About Pedophilia

A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger).

B. The person has acted on these urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.

C. The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A.

D. The individual must feel personal distress about their interest, not merely distress resulting from society’s disapproval;

OR

have a sexual desire or behavior that involves another person’s psychological distress, injury, or death, or a desire for sexual behaviors involving unwilling persons or persons unable to give legal consent.

Note: Do not include an individual in late adolescence involved in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 12- or 13-year-old.

Specify if:

• Sexually Attracted to Males
• Sexually Attracted to Females
• Sexually Attracted to Both

Specify if:

• Limited to Incest

Specify type:

• Exclusive Type (attracted only to children)
• Nonexclusive Type

This diagnosis is part of a family of diagnoses called paraphilias. The key to identifying a paraphilic disorder is in the last 2 sections of the diagnostic criteria. To qualify as having any type of paraphilia, regardless of the specific sexual preferences or desires, one must feel personal distress about their interest that is different than distress that is due to society’s disapproval, or that the sexual desire would harm someone else physically or psychologically.

It is important to not the difference between feeling distress because society, family, friends or others don’t approve of the sexual thoughts, feelings or behaviors, and feeling distress about it on a personal level separate from the opinions of others.

With pedophilia, the feelings of distress must come from recurrent, intense urges, fantasies or behaviors that involve sex with a child under the age of 13. To qualify for pedophilia you must be over age 16 and must be more than 5 years older than the person of sexual interest.

The exact cause of paraphilias is unknown for sure

The following are a list of possible factors that cause conduct disorder:

• Childhood abuse
• Traumatic experiences
• Previous sexual experiences that have conditioned a sexual response
• Biological factors during brain development
• Chemical imbalances

• Psychotherapy
• Medication from your primary care physician can help to control symptoms of paraphilia but are not considered a cure.
• For best results, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is recommended.
• Self Help (Try Our Self Help Program)
• Working with Our Coaches