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Here we go. If it feels like we’ve been here, it is because we have.
USA Today published a story on Jan. 10 with the following headline:
The complicated research behind pedophilia
“Researchers who study pedophilia say the term describes an attraction, not an action, and using it interchangeably with ‘abuse’ fuels misperceptions,” wrote Alia Dastagir.
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which also included homosexuality until the organization removed it in the 1970s, defines pedophilia as “recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behavior involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children.”
Remember the “born this way” strategy utilized by the homosexual movement in America… does this sound familiar?
“One of the most significant findings is that scientists who study the disorder say pedophilia is determined in the womb, though environmental factors may influence whether someone acts on an urge to abuse,” Dastagir wrote.
She then quoted James Cantor, a clinical psychologist, sex researcher and former editor-in-chief of “Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment.”
“The evidence suggests it is inborn,” Cantor said. “It’s neurological. Pedophilia is the attraction to children, regardless of whether the (person) ever … harms.”
USA Today says that not all people who sexually abuse children are pedophiles. And, it adds, some pedophiles never abuse children.
“There are child molesters and pedophiles. If you think of Venn diagrams, there’s a lot of overlap,” said Anna Salter, a psychologist, author, and internationally recognized expert who has done over 500 evaluations of high-risk sex offenders. “There are the people who are sexually attracted to children … (and then) there are some people who molest kids who are not pedophiles. They molest kids because of anger. They molest kids because they’re scared of adult women. They molest kids to get revenge, but they don’t actually have an age preference for prepubescent children.”
“I think as a field, we’ve accepted the idea that this is not something that people choose,” said Michael Seto, forensic research director at the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group in Canada.
Seto said there is more neuroscientific knowledge of pedophilia than ever. And, according to Seto, pedophilia is something people are born with, or at least have a predisposition to.”
An Old Dominion University professor came under fire late last year when discussing “destigmatizing pedophilia.” Allyn Walker, a transgender professor, resigned after she referred to pedophiles as “minor-attracted people.”
And, according to USA Today, “there is growing support in the field for Walker’s point of view.”
Salter said the choice is when a pedophile acts on their attraction. Cantor said there is no treatment to turn a pedophile into a non-pedophile. He said pedophiles can be taught self-control and compensatory strategies.
Believe it or not, sexologist are debating whether pedophilia is a sexual orientation.
Iowa is one of 22 states that includes sexual orientation and gender identity in its Civil Rights Code.
