Which statement about paraphilias is accurate?

Question

a. Pedophiles prey primarily on female children between the ages of 12 and 15 years.
b. Persons with paraphilias rarely experience shame and are not distressed by their acts.
c. Paraphilic behavior is controllable by willpower, but most with the disorder fail to do so.
d. Paraphilias are uncommon, but paraphilic acts are common because they are committed repeatedly by persons with the disorder.

Answer 1

D
Paraphilias are uncommon disorders; however, because persons with these disorders repeatedly enact behaviors associated with their disorders, paraphilic acts are relatively common. The majority of victims of pedophiles are males in early adolescence; those pedophiles who prefer females usually prefer prepubescent children. Persons with paraphilias can often experience shame and are at higher risk for suicide due to the stigma, shame, and embarrassment associated with the disorders. Biological and psychological drives underlying paraphilic behavior can be very strong and often are not controllable by willpower alone. Persons with paraphilias have great difficulty controlling their behavior, even when very desirous and motivated to do so.