Fixated Pedophilia

Fixated Pedophilia: Making Children the Endangered Species Submitted by: Juanita Mallard

VBHE, Criminal Justice Department, CJS 610 Dr. Bernadette J. Holmes November 26, 2009 Table of Contents I. Introduction a. Defining the meaning of Pedophile II. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework a. Pedophilic Background b. Statistics of Behavior III. Methods of Therapy & Treatment a. Developmental
Theory of a pedophile b. Psychological attributes of the behavior IV. Analysis V. Conclusion VI. Work cited

Fixated Pedophilia: Making Children the Endangered Species Introduction Defining the meaning of Pedophilia The information within this study has been provided to enlighten its readers on the facts associated with the Fixated Pedophile. It also offers the reader a better understanding of the terms Sexual Abuse, Child Molester, and Pedophilia. This information was thought to be vital due to the virtue of their perspectives; each group portends a different approach to treatment. The term “Sexual Abuse” is defined as (i) the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, or coercion of any child to engage in any sexually explicit conduct or (ii) the rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or (iii) incest with children under circumstances which indicate the child’s health or welfare is harmed. (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 42 as Amended by Public Law 98-457, 98th Congress, 9 October 1984). The Molester is defined as NUMBER OF ABUSED CHILDREN. Today there are a total of 686,515 registered sex offenders in the United States (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children). Pedophilia has become a worldwide epidemic and its heinous acts against prepubescent children have brought this crime to the attention of National Level Media. National concerns about pedophilia have grown because of recent high-profile child abuse, murder cases and congressional sex scandals. Recent media attention by television shows such as “To Catch a Predator” has fueled fears about the child’s vulnerability to these sexual offenders. The days of hiding in the background slightly waiting and watching for the opportunity to abduct a child has long surpassed the time. In the 21st Century your next door neighbor, doctor, school teacher, Lawyer and even Priest are being recognized as potential predators. The television show, “To Catch a Predator” has made immense strides in exposing This show allowed Americans to see that pedophiles are those same people who we accepted as our friends.
Advertising the characteristic of the pedophile has allowed the media to educate society and promotes a widespread awareness of the different types of predators; however, most people will associate a rapist or child molester with a pedophile but the definitions are slightly different. Pedophilia is a clinical diagnosis usually made by a psychiatrist or psychologist. It’s not a criminal or legal term, such as forcible sexual offense, which is a legal term often used in criminal statistics. The pedophile is an individual who fantasizes about, is sexually aroused by, or experiences sexual urges toward prepubescent children (generally <13). for a period of at least six months. Pedophiles are either severely distressed by these sexual urges, experience interpersonal difficulties because of them, or act on them. Pedophiles usually come to medical or legal attention by committing an act against a child because most do not find their sexual fantasies distressing or ego-dystonic enough to seek voluntarily treatment for their disorder (Hall & Hall, 2007). Currently there is no verified profile of the typical adult who sexually abuses children. Indeed, all available information suggests that there is considerable variation in the characteristics of men who have sex with children. Virtually every characteristic has been found not to be present in at
least some cases. Research on clinical findings states that, if many of the traditional concepts used in community settings to describe adults who have sex with children are largely not useful because they fail to describe actual dimensions of the problem or only describe adequately a proportion of the offenders population, community-based therapists are still in need of a way of describing the various types of clients they see. For the time until a more meaningful typology is widely available, therapist may find it useful to describe their clients among a number of dimensions. Each dimension describes an aspect of the offender’s sexual use of children who are currently thought to be important in treating these clients and which may be helpful in describing vibrations among sexual offenders. Ppedophiles that seek out children; are labeled as either Regressed or Fixated pedophile. The Fixated offender primary orientation is toward children. The Regressed offender whose involvement with a child; is a clear departure, under-stress from a primary sexual orientation toward individuals within the same age range. The idea that adults who have sex with children do so because they lack the social skills to obtain sex with same age peers has been quite popular for some time. The evidence that adults who sexually abuse children have inadequate social skills is weak and at least one clinic has reported significant skill deficits in their patients. Able, Rouleau, and Cunningham indicated that 43% of child molesters show skill deficits and 45% show below average assertive skills. Because their sample is a non- incarcerated one, these data collections are likely to be important for many community based therapists. Currently, data describing the skill and assertive deficits of these offenders is not available. So it is not clear what specific skill deficits their clients exhibited. (Able, Rouleau, & Cunningham 1985). Conceptual/Theoretical Framework Who becomes a predator Individuals may ask, why do some males tend to perpetrate more than others, the addiction to children by these perpetrators has been duly noted, the most widely used categorization to explain the motivations of perpetrators who indulge in sexual activities with children is though Groth’s typology of the fixated pedophile. The fixated offender is on whose primary orientation is to children, predominantly male children. His compulsive, premeditated abuse is based on his need to repeat his own past victimization. Groth states that the fixated pedophile feels trapped within their adolescence and due to their emotional impact and maladaptive resolution of life issues; they create and individual with no emotional bonds to the children that they victimize. They have no feelings of guilt or remorse for the behaviors that they display; the fixated pedophile has little heterosexual interest in age mates unless the woman has children of the age that interest him (Groth 1982). Recognition of the importance of these dimensions and the collection of clinical data on each will require that many community therapists expand their conceptualizations of the problem of child sexual abuse. Some therapists have found the expansion of their clinical focus to include the dimensions discussed in this paper to be useful in planning of their treatment and subsequently, in helping adults who sexually use children to gain control of the behavior, which causes them considerable personal and social cost. Several studies examined background histories and characteristics of sex offenders. Tingle, Bernard, Robbins, Newman, and Hutchinson (1986) and Dwyer (1988) agreed that family histories of offenders frequently indicate very poor or nonexistent relationships with the fathers and close or meshed relationships with the mother figures. Tingle 1986 cited that although 83% of the child molesters included in their study reported sharing a very close relationships with their mothers, only 23% of them reported that their mothers were the type of mother you could to with problems. Pedophilic Background In the days of our ancestors, the child, especially the female was thought to be more of a property than a vital member of the family. The fathers were considered to be the property owner of the adolescent child, they was given the authority to do as they pleased with the children born to their family unit; female children were more of a bargaining tool to trade for land and money. Boys were in most cases more immune to sexual abuse; they were taken for their attractive appearance, their softness and their youth but were expected to show strength in battle. The boys that were used in early sexual relationships were protected and plied with gifts, the protector was teacher and counselor, accepted and approved by the family(Rush 1992). An estimated one in 20 cases of child sexual abuse is reported or identified; Empirical studies between 1972 and 2004 eligible under the keywords “molest” and “pedo” were identified using the Psych-Info and Medline electronic databases. People at risk of molestation behaviors are described most frequently as either ‘‘child molesters’’ or ‘‘paedophiles’’. The two terms represent the socio-legal and psychopathological conceptualizations of the phenomenon (Ames & Houston, 1990). The concepts overlap, a child molester can be a paedophile or vice versa, but they are not interchangeable. The child molester behaviors are slightly mentioned [Passive voice] in this research to ensure the reader understands the sociological and physiological difference between the child molester and the fixated pedophile. the NIBRS data indicated that an arrest was made in only 29% of reported juvenile sexual assaults. The dimensions of a pedophile’s denial, sexual fantasies, and sexual arousal are provided [Passive voice] to assist in depicting the difference within the types of pedophiles. Child molesters who do not have a strong, ongoing sexual interest in children and there are also paedophiles that never molested. The term ‘‘child molester’’ is used for a person who has had sexual contact with children. The sexual act as well as the definition of what is a child, is legally based. [Passive voice] Whether the person is to be classified [Passive voice] as a child molester or not is simply decided [Passive voice] by referring to legal norms. The term ‘‘child molester’’ reflects behaviors, specifications of which vary among justice systems and across time. This term may not reflect a psychological or medical phenomenon. The term ‘‘paedophile’’ applies to people who have a sexual interest (or even preference) in pre-pubescent children independent of their behaviors, legal, or otherwise (APA, 2000; WHO, 1993). Pedophiles often intentionally try to place themselves in a position in which they can meet children and have the opportunity to interact with children in an unsupervised way. Such as when babysitting, doing volunteer work, doing hobbies, or coaching sports. Pedophiles usually obtain access to children through means of persuasion, friendship, and behavior designed to gain the trust of the child and parent. These predators target certain types of families when looking for children to abuse, they seek vulnerable individuals such as children from broken homes, emotionally needy or unhappy children and children who are receptive to their advances. Clinical results suggest that men who engage in this pedophilic behavior inhibit aggression. A number of clinical results that appear among the most frequently held by community-based therapists but the one concept that seems to be interrelated [Passive voice] and together make up what appears to be the common view of adult sexual interest in children. One of the most popular concepts used to describe adults who have sex with children is that they are either fixated [Passive voice] or regressed (Groth, Hobson & Gary, 1982). In this paper the rates of violent victimization of youths by pedophiles has increased in the past decades, this data suggest that personality characteristics of adult pedophilia are more widespread than reported. Technically, individuals who engage in sexual activities with pubescent teenagers under the legal age of consent (ages 13-16) are known as hebophiles (attracted to females) or ephebophiles (attracted to males). Pedophiles may engage in a wide range of sexual acts with children. Pedophiles use activities ranging from exposing themselves to children, undressing them, looking at them nude, masturbating in the presence of children, rubbing their genitals against a child, fondling a child, engaging in oral sex or penetration of the mouth, anus, and or vagina. Generally, pedophiles do not use force to have children engage in these activities but instead rely on various forms of psychic manipulation and desensitization; such as showing pornography to children (Hall & Hall 2007,). Statistics of Behavior Most individuals who engage in pedophilia or paraphilia are male (Hall & Hall, 2007). Pedophiles are subdivided into several classifications. One of the first distinctions made when classifying pedophiles is to determine whether they are “exclusively” attracted to children (exclusive pedophile) or attracted to adults as well as children (nonexclusive pedophile). In a study by Abel & Harlow of 2429 adult male pedophiles, only 7% identified themselves as exclusively sexually attracted to children, which confirms the general view that most pedophiles are part of the nonexclusive group. Pedophiles are usually attracted to a particular age range and/or sex of child. Research categorizes male pedophiles by whether they are attracted to only male children (homosexual pedophilia), female children (heterosexual pedophilia), or children from both sexes (bisexual pedophilia). The percentage of homosexual pedophiles ranges from 9% to 40%, which is approximately four to 20 times higher than the rate of adult men attracted to other adult men (using a prevalence rate of adult homosexuality of 2%-4%).This finding does not imply that homosexuals are more likely to molest children, just that a larger percentage of pedophiles are homosexual or bisexual in orientation to children. Individuals attracted to females usually prefer children between the ages of eight and 10 years old. Individuals attracted to males usually prefer slightly older boys between the ages of 10 and 13 years. Heterosexual pedophiles, in self-report studies, have on average abused 5.2 children and committed an average of 34 sexual acts versus homosexual pedophiles that have on average abused 10.7 children and committed an average of 52 acts. Bisexual offenders have on average abused 27.3 children and committed more than 120 acts. A study by Abel showed that 32 of 377 non-incarcerated, non–incest-related pedophiles, whose legal situations had been resolved and who were surveyed using an anonymous self-report questionnaire, found that heterosexual pedophiles on average reported abusing 19.8 children and committing 23.2 acts, whereas homosexual pedophiles had abused 150.2 children and committed 281.7 acts. Another common pedophilic identifier is that the abused children are limited to family members (i.e, incest). Federal data show that 27% of all sexual offenders assaulted family members, 50% of offenses committed against children younger than six years were committed by a family member, as were 42% of acts committed against children 6 to 11 years old and 24% against children 12 to 17 years old. The study by Abel and Harlow found that 68% of “child molesters” had molested a family member; 30% had molested a stepchild, a foster child, or an adopted child; 19% had molested one or more. Timeline of Pedophilic awareness Generally, the individual must be at least 16 and at least five years older than the juvenile of interest to meet the criteria for pedophilia. In cases that involve adolescent offenders, factors such as emotional and sexual maturity may be taken into account before a diagnosis of pedophilia is made. Pedophiles usually report that their attraction to children begins around the time of their puberty of adolescence, but this sexual attraction to children can also develop later in life. Research found that up to 44% of pedophiles in their sample of 168 sex offenders were in the older adult age range (age 40 to 70years old). Methods of Therapy & Treatments Sex offender treatment programs predominantly use an eclectic approach.
The most reliable mechanism for determining pedophilia is by using a phallometric of plethysmographic testing procedures. These procedures involve presenting various types of stimuli such as pictures, movies, and audio tapes to the subject these stimuli’s will either cause a change in the subjects blood volume which [Use "that" for a restrictive phrase (or place a comma before "which")] will cause a change in the penile blood flow causing a level of sexual arousal. Suggested therapies include psychoanalytic therapy, cognitive and behavioral therapies, family therapy, and social skills groups (Dwyer, 1988; Walters, 1987). Nelson et al. ( [Move the period to follow the citation] 1989) suggested that treatment goals focus on helping the offender control his behavior, rather than on developing a cure. Few therapists regard the sex offender as curable. Nelson et al. (1989) maintained that the offender must take an active, vigilant role in managing a pattern of non-offense. Other suggested treatment goals include modifying deviant sexual arousal, remediating social and sexual skills deficits, improving affect management, heightening empathy toward others, enhancing self-esteem, and promoting impulse control (Nelson et al., 1989; Walters, 1987). These authors viewed sex offenses as complex, inter-related behaviors with multiple factors, including character-logical factors,
skills deficits, and deviant arousal, or orientation patterns. The most recent forms of therapy founded to be helpful are Art Therapy and Music Therapy. Art Therapy- There is a paucity of empirical research examining the effectiveness of art therapy as treatment intervention with child molesters. Only two articles examined expressive therapy treatment with sex offenders. Naitove (1988) used art therapy with a child molester group, suggesting that the goals of a group include genuine expression of attitudes and affects in a socially appropriate manner. She judged art therapy as effective treatment when used in conjunction with conventional offender treatments and concluded that art therapy facilitated emotive expressions of group members. Music Therapy- Kaser (1991) used music therapy in the form of drumming for the treatment of a single subject case, concentrating on denial, resistance to treatment, identity, and control. In the initial therapy sessions, he focused on establishing a relationship with the client through music interactions. After rapport had been established, the therapist used confrontation through interpretations of pathological music expressions. As a result, the subject demonstrated an increased ability to maintain focus and control in session as well as a progressive awareness of self and others. Analysis The sociological affects of abuse brought on by the trauma associated with the assault by the Pedophile is a forever in the memory of the child’s and most offtern will manifest during his adult years; possible causing the cycle of pedophilia to began again. In the journal “Profile of Pedophilia” Hall and Hall stated that “It is hard to present a classic personality pattern for pedophilia because of the various subgroups that exist. Some individuals who suffer with the urges of pedophilia are able to present themselves as psychologically normal during examination or superficial encounters, even though they have severe underlying personality disorders.” Methodological testing has been done to find the cause of this psychopathology behavior but in the case of child molesting, there has been a failure to specify or control the age and sex of victims and degree of force used. As mentioned early in this research the use of the plethysmography as a method of determining whether or not an individual has pedophilic tendencies is a reliable method but this type of testing is very expensive. This type of testing requires the presence of sexually explicit materials, is not applicable to females, and requires functioning male genitalia. Medical causes such as diabetes and hypertension could affect the results as well; this method also has the potential to be tricked by the individual. Due to the amount of attention that has been contributed to this field of criminal history, it has made it difficult to conclude that the current offense of pedophilia is representative of past behavior. The field of criminology is replete with theories explaining specific crimes as well as patterns of offending. One common factor theories share is the reliance of basic facts of criminal occurrences (Vold & Bernard, 1986). The true prevalence of pedophilia is difficult to estimate because few pedophiles voluntarily seek treatment and because most of the available data is based on individuals who have become involved with the legal system. There are a number of individuals that have pedophilic fantasies and never act on them or who do act but are never caught. Conclusion The study suggests that people convicted of sexual offenses are more likely to have experienced childhood abuse than Non-Sexual Offenders. A large number of recorded cases of pedophilic abuse is often not reported for a variety of reasons ranging from fear of being reprimanded to being thought of as the cause of the abuse. Children that are abused or victimized will begin to think it is their fault; this fear will keep them from notifying the authorities. Intervention in child protection often targets the more serious cases of child abuse; although, not recognized; the physical and mental safety has obviously become an important issue, it is also important to recognize that child protection work includes protection of a child’s developmental trajectory as a major factor in their social process. A trajectory that is adversely forged by abusive factors can have future ramifications. Supportive interventions for children and families are likely to have a greater chance of success if developed early. Entrenched patterns and long-standing abusive family dynamics will always be more difficult to change but when families remember that life must exist for the children even after divorce, death of a spouse or financial hardships. Keeping children safe is the number one intervention that society must realize. A large number of the men who have been abused as children were sexually aggressive during their childhood suggest a need for professionals to take seriously patterns of childhood sexual aggression that might progress to adult offending patterns. Although, there is clearly a need for professionals to protect children from physical and sexual abuse, the range of abuse experienced by the research participants suggests a need to protect a child’s developmental trajectory when this has been adversely forged by abusive factors. A pedophile will typically not stop their behavior on their own, will not turn themselves in and will not take responsibility for or acknowledge their own wrongdoing. The pedophile can be treated but not cured of their condition. Even though the pedophile understands the risk of committing the sexual, he will accept the possibility of being charged with crimes such, a felony, facing years of prison time, heavy fines, and other penalties. The policy and procedures that are put in place to keep children safe have to be re-evaluated to ensure that these predators abide by them. Most pedophile’s don’t think they will ever be caught and if apprehended they will be released eventually just to recidivate. Although the convicted pedophile is required to register with a sex offender’s registry upon being released from incarceration; most do not following the rules. Properly registered offenders are guides through the process by the parole system. The sex offender registry provides information to the public about sex offenders who live, work, or otherwise reside in their communities. Registry requirements are mandated by a federal law. These laws are known to most people as “Megan’s Law” that was passed in 1996. The system must work harder to ensure that all pedophiles resister.

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