Prohibited Sexual Behavior and Sexual Violence

Adult Sexual Contact with Children: Pedophilia

The teacher and his students Ironic-realistic depiction of a pedophile. (After a 19th-century illustration)

The term „erotic pedophilia“ was introduced by Richard von Krafft-Ebing in his influential study “Psychopathia sexualis” (1886). He considered it a “sexual sickness of the mind” along with sadism and masochism (he introduced these terms as well). His colleagues adopted many of his terms and ideas, and today the psychiatric profession offers this characterization of pedophilia:

“Over a period of at least six months, recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 or younger).”

The definition continues by explaining that these “fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning”. It further states that the pedophile “is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children” The definition does not include “an individual in late adolescence involved in an ongoing sexual relationship with a 12 or 13 year old (straight or gay)”. Finally, the definition makes these observations: “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." (1)
(1) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition
(DSM-IV,TR) 2000