Pedophilia

Characteristics of Pedophiles

There are several elements characteristic of a pedophile. The most common type of offender is the heterosexual pedophile, usually a male offender and a female child victim. Homosexual pedophilic relations involving a male offender and a male child victim occur in 20% to 23% of the cases (Bartol, 2002). A small percentage of offenders chose victims from both sexes. The sexual contact between the pedophile and the victim can range from caressing the body, fondling the genitals of the victim, or forcing the victim to [Page 351]manipulate the genitals of the offender, to actual penile penetration and oral copulation. In extreme cases, the sexual contact becomes violent in nature, resulting in sexual homicide of the victim. Pedophiles range in aggressiveness from passive to extremely violent, based on their fantasy development.

As with any paraphilia, the role of fantasy is a fundamental aspect of the sexually deviant behavior, perhaps the most critical catalytic force. In addition to fantasy, compulsive masturbation and facilitating agents such as pornography, drugs, and alcohol are also vital in sustaining the behavior. The sexual offender is typically a social introvert. Because of a lack of social and sexual socialization, offenders become reliant on their own internal thought processing. The fantasy world becomes a coping mechanism in which offenders can create a reality of their own, a reality of dominance and control over any situation and any person. The fantasy contains a desired paraphilia, as well as a circumstance or situation the offender has rehearsed in his mind. The pedophile's behavior can range in aggressiveness, a continuum of behavior, depending on the development and content of the fantasy system. A pedophile who is attracted to children and watches them only from afar may have a fantasy system reflecting a socially appropriate, caring relationship with the child, whereas a pedophile who is a mysoped (a sadistic offender), may fantasize the rape, torture, mutilation, and murder of the child.

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