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What is a Pedophile?
Dear Sir,
I have noticed a misconception these days about the term pedophilia. I
have seen people mistakely use the term to describe a relationship where the
younger person is an adolescent, i.e. a relationship between a 15 or 16 year old and an
adult. This is incorrect and people shouldn't classify all adult-minor
relationships as pedophilic in nature. I think it would good in the interest of education
to have the correct definition on your site.
The American Psychiatric Association defines Pedophilia:
A pedophile is a person who over at least a 6 month period has recurrent, intense
sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a
prepubescent child or children (age 13 years or younger). The fantasies,
sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The person is at least age 16 years
and at least 5 years older than the child or children. Not to include an individual in
late adolescence involved in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 12 or 13 year old
(straight or gay). Individuals with pedophilia generally report an attraction to children
of a particular age range. Some individuals prefer males, others prefer females, and some
are aroused by both males and females. Pedophila involving female victims is reported more
than pedophilia involving male victims.
Reference; Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, American
Psychiatric Association, 1994.