StMU Research Scholars

Featuring Scholarly Research, Writing, and Media at St. Mary’s University

December 8, 2018

“Let’s Be Mature About Pedophilia:” Disorder or Sexual Orientation?

In the wake of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) movement, new sexual orientations have been cast into light. Pansexuals, Demisexuals, and Asexuals are just a few of the emerging sexualities covered under the umbrella of representation within the LGBTQ community. However, not all sexual orientations are welcomed in this community. In an attempt to spread misinformation and hate within the LGBTQ community, a homophobic smear campaign advertised the idea of LGBTQ leaders fighting for the rights of pedophiles (using the acronym LGBTP–Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Pedosexual). This ad sparked outrage among members of the LGBTQ community, but also led to new questions, including whether or not pedophilia should be normalized into society as a sexual orientation. Despite the negative stigma surrounding pedophiles, as well as the current conception of sexual identity, psychologists and scientists are actively working to showcase how pedophilia is indeed an “unchangeable sexual orientation.”

In order to spread awareness about pedophilia as a sexual orientation, experts highlight that the sole difference between pedophilia and other sexual orientations is that, to live out a pedophilic fantasy would end in disaster.1 Psychologists and scientists alike do not condone child sexual assault. They, like many of us, believe it is a horrendous crime that should always remain a crime and be punished accordingly. But many mental health professionals already hold pedophilia to be a sexual orientation, given the nature of its definition by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition–the DMS-5.2 Pedophilia is defined as the “recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children of 13 years of age or younger.”3 Sexual orientation refers to whom an individual is sexually and romantically attracted. Despite this “widely held” view among mental health professionals that pedophilia is a sexual orientation, “people are uncomfortable talking about pedophilia that way since there seems to be, currently, an idea that sexual orientation is something that we should kind of respect and honor.”4 Psychologists also emphasize that sexual attraction to children and the choice to harm children by acting on an individual’s sexual desire are two separate things.5

Child Abuse is Abuse | Courtesy of Flickr Commons

Pedophilia does not become pedophilic disorder, however, until the person has experienced personal distress and impairment caused by the burden of their fantasies and urges regarding children for over a period of six months. Although having pedophilic disorder and/or being a pedophilia is not a crime, when one acts out by either watching child pornography or sexually abusing a child, their disorder does not excuse their behavior and their crimes are prosecuted.6

A major case against pedophilia being labeled as a sexual orientation is that it will decriminalize child sex abuse. Although many people relate being a pedophile with acts of child sexual abuse, only fifty percent of people who sexually abuse children are pedophiles. The other fifty percent are not specifically attracted to children, and often look to children as sexual surrogates due to their lack of social skills in maintaining appropriate emotional and sexual relationships with adults. Moreover, these abusers who are not strictly attached to children are said to suffer from an impulse-control disorder.7 It is also estimated that up to three percent of the male population has some form of pedophilic interest.8 “The cases [of pedophile child sex abusers] that we see are, of course, the cases who have been unable to resist their sexual interest…Those are the cases that hit the news,” Dr. James Cantor recalls.9 Criminals like Earl Bradley and Pedro Lopez who have raped and molested hundreds of children before imprisonment have been the only picture of a pedophile the media has painted. However, men like Dr. Cantor and Ethan Edwards aim to showcase the thousands of “gold-star” pedophiles in the world.

“Pedophile Butterfly” used to signify attraction to both girls and boys | Courtesy of Google Images

Ethan Edwards is a pedophile. Despite Edward’s awareness of his attraction to young girls early in his life, he has never touched or caused any harm to a child. As Edwards began accepting his romantic, and at times sexual, attachment to girls as young as four, he sought out a therapist to discuss his pedophilic thoughts, and he then co-founded Virtuous Pedophiles. Virtuous Pedophiles, also called VirPed, is a website with a community of over two thousand, non-offending, “gold-star” pedophiles of all sexes and ages. Within this online community, pedophiles can anonymously provide peer support and information about available resources to help one another not hurt children as well as live a happy, productive life. Additionally, Virtuous Pedophiles aims to combat the stigma that every pedophile is a child molester who seeks to hurt children. These “gold-star” pedophiles have never sexually abused children and vow to never give in to their urges. “Our highest priority is to help pedophiles never abuse children.”10

To further the case of pedophilia as being unchangeable, scientists have discovered physical features and similarities among pedophiles. For instance, a common trait found among pedophiles is an IQ ten to fifteen points lower than the average IQ. A team of scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health also found that, on average, pedophiles are shorter than other men, and three times more likely to be left-handed or ambidextrous. These two physical characteristics are determined before birth, leading scientists to conclude that the explanation for pedophilic behavior is, to an extent, prenatal.11

Additionally, scientists have found significant evidence of multiple structural abnormalities in the brains of pedophiles. Within the brain of a pedophile, there is a decreased volume of gray brain matter, GM, in the central striatum, affecting the nucleus accumbens, orbital frontal cortex, and cerebellum—all of which play an important role in addictive behaviors and impulsion control. The lack of GM “burdens pedophiles with repetitive urges and thoughts,” despite their knowledge that the activities they want to engage in are illegal and would harm children.12 This lack of GM furthers the idea that pedophilia is a preexisting condition that did not develop over time.13

Dr. James Cantor | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Dr. James Cantor, senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada, has found, after  a decade of work, that pedophiles have less white matter in the brain. White matter serves to carry messages throughout the brain and without it, the “cross-wiring” of stimuli occurs. This cross-wiring takes the stimuli that evokes nurturing and protective reactions in adults and instead evokes sexual reactions.14

Let’s be mature about pedophilia. As research continues to develop on the other possible agents within the brain to showcase that pedophilia is indeed biologically rooted–at least in some cases–pedophilia being a sexual orientation is a reality to many professionals in mental health. Unlike the LGBTQ movement, thousands of pedophiles, such as the over two thousand in the Virtuous Pedophiles community, do not wish for their orientation to be “normalized” and promoted in society. Instead, they wish to be understood and receive help in controlling their attraction to children.

Neurobiologists, psychologists, pedophiles, and parents all agree that child sexual abuse should remain illegal—no one denies this fact. And although pedophilic tendencies develop before birth, that does not serve as an excuse for ever harming a child. But, when there are pedophiles that constantly fight their urges given to them by abnormalities they had no control over, Dr. James Cantor supports the idea of help being afforded to them as soon as possible to combat the possibility of pedophilic thoughts becoming inhumane actions against children.15

“There is nothing in any research that says somehow they are not responsible for their behavior… I think society as a whole would be better off if these people had an alternative. If they had someone or someway that they can turn to some group, some institution, some help line in order to prevent them from going from just a pedophilia to an actual child molester.” -Dr. James Cantor16

As author of this article I would like to clarify that I do not believe that pedophilia belongs in the LGBTQIA+ community, nor do I believe it is acceptable to hurt children. First and foremost, children cannot give consent. Sexual assault of a child, child pornography, and any other crimes against children will and shall always be illegal. My interest in this topic was sparked when I came across studies suggesting that pedophilia could somehow be treated in the brain. My curiosity that one day in the future people could “treat” a pedophile interested me, and I wrote the article to better understand this argument. As I stated in the article, “Neurobiologists, psychologists, pedophiles, and parents all agree that child sexual abuse should remain illegal.” I, like all of you commenting and reading, strongly hold that all sexual abuse of children should be criminally prosecuted. I felt I must revisit this article given the current political climate, and how it seems more people are trying to support the idea that pedophiles belong in the LGBTQIA+ community. As the author of this article, I had no intent to push this outlandish idea and I hope the readers know I in no way support child molesters and child sex abusers attempting to be normalized in society.

  1. TEDx, “Pedophilia Is a Natural Sexual Orientation | Mirjam Heine | University of Würzburg,” June 20, 2018, YouTube video,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy4AUzsGbfE. 6:19-6:28.
  2. Diana Tourjée, “Most Child Sex Abusers Are Not Pedophiles, Expert Says,” Broadly, VICE,   April 4, 2016, broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/mgmzwn/most-child-sex-abusers-are-not-pedophiles-expert-says.
  3. American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: Edition DSM-5 (Virginia: American Psychiatric Publishing, 2013), 697.
  4. Diana Tourjée, “Most Child Sex Abusers Are Not Pedophiles, Expert Says,” Broadly, VICE,   April 4, 2016, broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/mgmzwn/most-child-sex-abusers-are-not-pedophiles-expert-says.
  5. CNN, “CNN Weekend Shows – Psychologist Discusses Treatment of Pedophiles,” June 27, 2012, YouTube video, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTkXmDROQz4. 1:12-1:44.
  6. Phil Pruitt and Chance Seales, “Can Pedophilia Be Treated Like Any Other Mental Illness?” WTVF, October 13, 2018, www.newschannel5.com/newsy/can-pedophilia-be-treated-like-any-other-mental- illness.
  7. Phil Pruitt and Chance Seales, “Can Pedophilia Be Treated Like Any Other Mental Illness?” WTVF, October 13, 2018, www.newschannel5.com/newsy/can-pedophilia-be-treated-like-any-other-mental- illness.
  8. TEDx Talks, “Let’s be mature about pedophilia,” April 13, 2018, YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egiBgmvv8wA.
  9. CNN, “CNN Weekend Shows – Psychologist Discusses Treatment of Pedophiles,” June 27, 2012, YouTube video, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTkXmDROQz4. 2:30-2:40
  10.  Virtuous Pedophiles, https://www.virped.org.
  11. Laura Kane, “Is Pedophilia a Sexual Orientation?” The Star, December 22, 2013, www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/12/22is_pedophilia_a_sexual_orientation.html.
  12. Michael Cochran and Meghan Cole, “Inside the Mind of a Pedophile,” Neuroanthropology, August 27, 2012, neuroanthropology.net/2010/05/10/inside-the-mind-of-a-pedophile/.
  13. Timm B. Poeppl et al., “Association between brain structure and phenotypic characteristics in pedophilia,” Journal of Psychiatric Research, vol. 47, issue 5, (2013), www-sciencedirect-com.blume.stmarytx.edu/science/article/pii/S0022395613000095#!.
  14. Laura Kane, “Is Pedophilia a Sexual Orientation?” The Star, December 22, 2013, www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/12/22is_pedophilia_a_sexual_orientation.html.
  15. CNN, “CNN Weekend Shows – Psychologist Discusses Treatment of Pedophiles,” June 27, 2012, YouTube video, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTkXmDROQz4. 4:42-4:54.
  16. CNN, “CNN Weekend Shows – Psychologist Discusses Treatment of Pedophiles,” June 27, 2012, YouTube video, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTkXmDROQz4. 3:18-4:16.

Tags from the story

child molestation

Pedophilia

sexual orientation

Recent Comments

Katherine Wolf

Very thought-provoking article. Due to their media portrayal, it would have never occurred to me that a pedophile would try so actively to resist their urges. I think that Ethan Edwards’ website community is such a great idea and I wonder if that same online community support system could be created for any other taboo behavior groups to help them resist what they do that harms others. But that also makes me wonder how the website ensures that the members are “gold star”, because one could argue that putting people together with the same destructive urge could cause more harm than good.

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08/01/2019

9:42 am

Emily Velazquez

I had no idea about the prenatal links scientists have been making to pedophilia. When I clicked on this article, I have to admit I went in completely one sided and thought I was going to disagree with many if not everything I was about to read but in fact, I didn’t. The idea of the “Virtuous Pedophiles” community I thought was good and could be very beneficial for those seeking for help. The fact that people are wanting to find a way to get better and learn how to resist the urge to sexually harm children is comforting to know. Hopefully more of these communities arise and the people in them are true to what they stand for and are not involved with wrong intentions.

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11/01/2019

9:42 am

Claudia Sanchez

This article is intriguing yet disturbing. it causes the reader to face the reality that there are pedophiles in today’s society and view them in a different light. This article does a great job of providing evidence to support the claim that pedophiles or biologically different and were born with their condition. I have conflicting views with Ethan Edwards “Gold-Star Pedophiles” website because although it is true that these people need a place to get help and build a community of support, it seems incredibly disturbing to see the vast amounts of pedophiles in society. Although this article supports the idea that by definition pedophilia is a sexual orientation, I still believe it should not be associated with LGBT movements or be considered a sexual orientation. Instead, it should be seen as a disorder that can be suppressed.

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11/01/2019

9:42 am

Fatima Navarro

A great article and topic that brings in “the other side of the story” to something debatable using information that scientists have found. I will disagree, however, in trying to put pedophilia on the same side of the LGBTQ+ community. Why? Because having an attraction to a group who are not able to consent is disturbing. Even if it’s been “scientifically” proven that pedophiles have certain common traits since birth, is this trying to be the argument for the LGBTQ community who agree that the vast majority were born that way, therefore there is nothing wrong? Debatable. The LGBTQ community has been suppressed and put down for many years now, comparing them with pedophiles will just cause the group to feel victimized and misunderstood even more. On the other hand, I find it interestingt that “Virtuous Pedophiles” community exists.

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11/01/2019

9:42 am

Nathalie Figueroa Soto

The reason I decided to read this article was because of the idea whether to include pedophiles as a sexual orientation into the LGBTQ community or not is big in the media right now. It is an uncomfortable topic to discuss, but this article did help me to understand some different points of view. Before reading the article, like many, I assumed that all pedophilic tendencies always resulted in child molestation later on. End of story. Now, whether I agree with it or not, I have been informed of the biological dispositions that lead to pedophilia, and that there are even some pedophiles (like those of VirPed) who are actively against harming children. I still don’t agree with the idea of accepting pedophilia as a normal sexual orientation though, since I think it wouldn’t be wise to associate them with the LGBTQ movement, especially since prejudice against this movement already exists.

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12/01/2019

9:42 am

Mariah Garcia

A while back I say the title of a TED talk about how if Pedophilia should be a sexual orientation. I was discouraged and outraged to read such a thing. So, I never clicked on it because I thought it was a talk about accepting pedophilia. So, when I saw this article I knew this was a topic I had to gain knowledge on. I am surprised how this thought-provoking article didn’t make me outraged, but rather sit back and really reflect about it. I see how parents, neurobiologist, psychologist even pedophiles, themselves, agree that child abuse should remain illegal which I agree with. But, I also didn’t realize that there are thousands of pedophiles who are seeking help and suppressing this urge because they see how sick child molestation is and they also want to live happy lives. Now that I am aware of this topic I am going back to that TED talk and listen to what the speaker is informing us about. It seems that it is a disorder, but also that there is no excuse for pedophilia to turn into child molestation because there is medical assistance even peer support to help fight the urge.

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13/01/2019

9:42 am

Engelbert Madrid

It is quite interesting on how there are different viewpoints of what it means to be a pedophile. Some people believe a pedophile and a child molester are the same thing; however, others believe there is a difference between both types of people. I’m glad the writer introduced the “Virtuous Pedophiles” community to let the reader understand that there are people that are trying to fight their urge of not causing any harm to children but also helping them to find a good, healthy mentality and life.

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13/01/2019

9:42 am

Samantha Ruvalcaba

I really enjoyed how thought-provoking this article was. This is the first I’m hearing about the issue of classifying pedophilia as a sexual orientation. The writer did a wonderful job by offering both sides of the argument, whilst being conscious of the negative connotation of pedophilia. Personally, at the end of this story I understood where the doctors and scientists are coming from when promoting the alternative “good” pedophiles have. As unnerving and uneasy it makes me feel that there are people out their with these sexual urges for children, the fact that scientists and doctors are deeming it as an abnormality people are born with, makes me feel a tiny bit relieved that a community like VirdPed exists so long as it continues to protect children from being assaulted/abused.

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13/01/2019

9:42 am

Rebeca Escobar

“Pedophilic tendencies develop before birth” is a debatable statement. I think it is something that is, unfortunately, learned and developed as one grows up. Personally, I think it is something parents can prevent and teach their children that it is wrong. In addition to the article, I find it incredibly disturbing that anybody would want to justify pedophilia and deem it as “okay”. There is no justification to harming a child, and a good part of me thinks that people only say this is okay to make the LGBTQ community look bad. Even so, it is important to stay away from those who justify this and categorize it as a sexual orientation. It is not a sexual orientation. There is nothing okay with viewing a child as a sexual object, and it will never be okay. I hope we will never live in a world where everyone has accepted it as such.

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13/01/2019

9:42 am

Diego Terrazas

This was a very informative and interesting article. I do not think pedophilia should be regarded as a sexual orientation. I feel as if doing so will promote pedophilia as something that “is not so bad”. I understand some pedophiles are aware they are wrong for having such an attraction to young children, but that does not give justification to deem it as a sexual orientation.

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13/01/2019

9:42 am

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