Provide an overview of pedophilic disorder. In your discussion, address the issue of pedophiles as child molesters

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Pedophilic Disorder is characterized by sexual urges, fantasies, or actual behavior directed toward a prepubescent child. The sexual arousal may be toward girls, boys, or girls and boys. For this disorder, if the person has acted on the urges or fantasies, the diagnosis is appropriate, even if the perpetrator denies distress or functional impairment. Although the terms pedophile and child molester are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. Someone with pedophilic disorder could have urges or fantasies involving sexual activity with a child but never act on them. That person would not be a child molester. Yet much of what we know about pedophilic disorder comes from samples of convicted child molesters and does not describe all those who suffer from the disorder. The most common pedophilic acts are fondling and genital exposure. Intercourse (oral, vaginal, or anal) is less common, and rape or abduction are the least common. Perpetrators can be familial or nonfamilial. Although usually thought to be a disorder of men, there now is evidence that some women suffer from pedophilia.