Is paedophilia a mental illness, a genetic disorder or a lifestyle choice?

Question

I'm not trying to be inflammatory and am in no way condoning it. I think it's wrong and disgusting but I'm asking why people are paedophiles because I don't understand it at all. Is it mental illness? Is it in the genes? Or do people choose it? Serious answers only please.

Answer 1

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), pedophilia is a mental disorder, listed under deviant sexual behaviors. There is no mention of it being genetic. Pedophiles are a sick bunch, to be sure. It is also noted the statistical majority of them are heterosexual, regardless of what the religious community would like to believe. This rather disarms one of their principal arguments against gays, but they conveniently ignore it.

Answer 2

First of all it's a crime.

We mustn't let the genes excuse anything and everything. So what's left is mental illness or lifestyle choice. But choosing deliberately such a lifestile, wouldn't that also be a sign of mental illness?

I would like to add something, that was not in your question. Some paedophiles have a history of having been abused as a child. That cannot be an excuse for doing the same, but it is a known reason why people can turn paedophile.
By the way, during the process against Michael Jackson, no one thought about the headlines years before, in which Jackson had said he had been sexually abused as a child.....

Answer 3

We will all agree that paedophilia is wrong. Even paedophiles themselves usually recognise they're wrong and their actions are immoral. Such conditions have lead to alot of medical research. Afterall once we have understood why people do this, we can 'cure' them of it.
The problem is that whatever it is - mental disorder or genetic illness, it certainly has its roots in psychological matters and the brain is an immensely complex place.
You will often find that those convicted of paedophilia have themselves been sexually abused as children or suffer from other mental disorders, and so these highly contributory factors would lead us to believe that it is in fact a mental disorder brought about by traumatic events.
Having said this, not all people with such tragic backgrounds commit this hideous crime,and not all peadophiles have such a tragic background. Unfortunately the wolrd of criminal psychology is incredibly complex and one that will not be unravelled any time soon. The brain really needs to be explored more.
The answer is not conclusive. Many factors contribute, such as the peadophile already suffering from mental disorders such as schizophrenia, early sexual experiences etc. Each case is very different, and it is not as clear cut and easy as black and white.

Answer 4

You are like literally the CLONE of me. When I was in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade(10th grade now) I showed signs of depression, anorexia, and bulimia. I still have signs of all three. I am the same way. I WANT a mental disorder(s), and I don't know why. But ever since then, I have been fascinated by many different mental/personality disorders, and can't help but want one. I research them over and over again. I am 15. I'm also very glad I'm not the only one. Good luck. (The closest thing I found to explaining this weird thing we both have is Münchausen syndrome, and it's not that close at all. Research it?)

Answer 5

Interesting question. Stephen Jay Gould once made the point that of all the mammalian species, there is less difference in appearance between human infants and adults than when compared to infants and adults of other species, including close relatives like chimpanzee. In other words, adult humans have a preference for youthful-looking mates so the young-looking have more of a chance of passing on their DNA to the next generation.

So, what are the implications in human society? Undoubtedly what is now terms as paedophilia occurred among our ancestors. The nearest modern analogy with ancient hunter-gatherer societies would be the Eskimo peoples of the Arctic. These people would live in isolated family groups and when the opportunity arose would be highly promiscuous. Often for a young female, her first sexual encounter would be with a close relative such as a brother or her father.

It would have been only with the development of agriculture (about ten thousand years ago) that humans would have settled into larger communities. In doing so would have also started the first taboos insofar that babies born of unions between close family members would have been noted for being potentially weak and prone to sickness. There was now a choice of a mate who was more distantly related and would be more attractive because of that. However, we are still talking about young populations here. In the Neolithic settlements of the Orkney Isles, it has been estimated that half the entire population would have been aged fifteen or under, with old people lasting until they are forty.

Society has changed greatly in the past five thousand years but hopefully by now you can see my point. Nowadays there is no excuse for having union with either under-age or close family members. Potentially half the population of the planet is a possible choice of mate for the other half. As adults, we have control and choice. But I guess that some adults may still have older instincts and still a smaller number of them choose to give way to those instincts.

Answer 6

Hmmm.... Being attracted to young children is most likely genetic, though some people believe being abused themselves as children can affect it. Not sure if you can call it a mental illness though, any more than you can say homosexuality is a result of a mental illness, or liking blondes over redheads - I'd say it's just the way their brains are wired.

Now, the fact that someone finds children sexually attractive doesn't necessarily mean they'll wander around taking pictures of them or abusing them. I suppose when people do this, it depends on how they think - If they don't believe there's anything wrong with it, I'd say that could be a sign of mental illness. If they know it's wrong, but do it anyway, then I'd say that's more of a choice.

There needs to be more mature debate over the nature of paedophilia in general, and a little less of the baying for blood from the tabloids and the like. If it is rooted in a mental disorder of some kind, then perhaps treatment is a possibility?

Answer 7

They almost always were molested as children during the time a human develops their sexuality. this in turn causes them to be sexually aroused by such things. Then as adults they seek this out and usually cannot be sexually satisfied without it involving a child, or at least prefer it.

Yes it is wrong and sick, but typically like i said they were victims too. It is a notoriously difficult mental disorder to treat. As was mentioned before me it is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Version 4-TR.

Answer 8

under no way do i condone it but it is a mental illness not that it is right but usually been from the persons past u know being abused it is wrong but it is also an illness they need help before theycomit the crime but i know it sounds like i defend them but honestly i do for the people but disgusts me when they choose not to be helped and comit these horrriblr disgusting crimes

Answer 9

If the person is sincerely and honestly distressed by the thoughts or acts of Pedophilia, but still can not help but have the thoughts or occasionally actually acts on them, then it is a disorder. Otherwise it is a criminal lifestyle choice.

Answer 10

Pedophilia is a mental disorder. Child molestation is an action. Pedophilia and child molestation are not the same thing. Pedophilia is not illegal, a mental disorder cannot be illegal. The act of child molestation is illegal. A person can be a pedophile (i.e. meet the criteria in the DSM) and have never touched a child in their life. A person can also molest children without being a pedophile. Pedophilia involves having recurring obsessive thoughts and compulsions to molest children.