Years ago a horrifying thought popped in my head.

[Maraya1969]

"What if I wake up someday and I am a pedophile"

We all know that these types of attractions feel sick to us. But to some they are natural. Why? Well pedophilia is a mental illness, (something I did not know or didn't consider) and people are born with mental illnesses.

And then this article has a bold quote, "Nobody chooses to be a pedophile"

We all know how many different types of groups of people that quote applies to.

Now I have found much more information from an article on the Daily Beast.



There is much evidence now to show that pedophiles are born with certain abnormalities in their brains. They also believe that prevention would probably work but since in the 1990's people in the psychiatric field are obligated to report if a person shares that they have these types of urges. So most of the men, (90% of all molesters) studied are incarcerated or have been.

Also the part where the molester is considered to be "grooming" the child is not as much of a calculated set of actions as it is something that that is inherent in the workings of their brains. When they were asked what age they felt when they were in the act of molestation most of them said they felt the same age as the child. It makes you think of the man hanging around the playground as interested in the children as much as playing with the equipment.

==================================


" on average, pedophiles have an IQ that is 10 points lower than the average population, they are 2.5 centimeters shorter, and they are significantly more likely not to be right-handed (i.e., they’re left-handed or ambidextrous). Non-right handedness has been shown to occur more often among people with both autism and schizophrenia, two “clearly biologically based” psychiatric conditions".

(This part hit me in the head)
 “We don’t know why we experience the sexual desires that we do. For so long, we’ve looked at it as if it’s simply a moral issue—people are supposed to have certain attractions—and often society said if you experience a different kind of sexual temptation or feelings, you’re not as morally worthy a person,” 


" Using brain-scanning technology, he discovered significant differences in the white matter—the substance that connects one brain region to another—of pedophile versus non-pedophile brains (both groups were composed of convicted criminals, to rule out the confounding variable of criminality). In the pedophile group, Cantor found significantly less white matter in two different regions, suggesting a connection deficit."


http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/06/what-science-reveals-about-pedophilia.html

Personally as far as everything other than someone acting on an impulse I think that I am going to practice more compassion for the person behind the pedophile. Nobody is born a monster.

[HassleCat]

1. It woud be great

If we could deal with them through the mental health system. Unfortunately, all we're equipped to do is throw them in prison.

[Sienna86]

2. Pedophilia cannot be changed.

Despite the fact it may be an organic disorder, society must protect those at risk. Prison will not change them.

[Maraya1969]

3. Apparently they are doing cognitive therapy and teaching

them proper ways to act in social situations. They need to learn how to connect with adults.

[nomorenomore08]

4. We need to focus on helping and treating - not condemning - those who haven't offended yet.

If they already have, then by all means, lock them up (either in prison or a psych ward). But it would be better if we could reach these individuals before they harm others.

[Maraya1969]

13. Exactlly. And in the article is says that laws were enacted

Last edited Fri Aug 28, 2015, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

in the 1990's that make it a requirement for all health personal to report anyone who talks about it.

So how are they going to get help if the one person, (psychologist, social worker, etc) reports them to the police if they say one word about it?

I think there are probably a lot of men out there that have these impulses but are able to squash them. And some can't or won't and that's the problem

Exactly.

[tblue37]

5. Someone posted this boy's story a couple of years ago:

http://www.upworthy.com/this-19-year-old-pedophile-has-never-gone-near-a-child-and-he-needs-you-to-hear-his-story

This 19-year-old pedophile has never gone near a child. And he needs you to hear his story.

"This American Life" decided to take on a REALLY hard topic: pedophilia. As a parent of two young kids, just hearing the word triggers a rage in me that I didn't even know I had. This is a hard episode to listen to, but it's really important that you do. Listen to it at work when you are bored at lunch, in your car, wherever. Just please hit "Play."

The definition of pedophilia is "a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children, generally age 11 years or younger."

Note how I emphasized "attraction." To be a pedophile, you don't have to act on your urges. Just thinking them is enough. Which makes sense. The thing is, though, this attraction can start manifesting in kids as young as 12 or 13. And they have no way to talk about these urges or how to prevent them from taking control of their lives without being considered a threat. Talk to a shrink? You risk being reported to the authorities. The scientific community is so afraid of the stigma attached to even researching pedophilia that it's barely been studied it at all. Which seems like kind of a bad idea if we want to prevent the victimization of more young children.

So a 19-year-old kid, an admitted pedophile who has never acted on his impulses, started an online support group. His mom is helping him find solutions. He needs you to hear this, for the sake of your own kids.

{SNIP}

[nomorenomore08]

6. I remember reading that article, or one very like it anyway.

Heartbreaking and disturbing in equal measure. Kids like that one need serious intervention.

[Ptrsnross]

7. Treatment definitely works

I am a mental health professional who treats men who have sexually abused others. The recidivism rate for sex offenses is very low and much lower than any other crime. Operating in secrecy is what keeps the cycle of abuse going. The truly dangerous offenders are those who haven't been caught. This is a very human problem that exists in all cultures. Access to mental health care without shaming would save many ruined lives.

[Maraya1969]

14. I looked around for the "like" button for your post. Maybe

we should have that system here.

[LeftyMom]

8. This website is bizarre sometimes.

[Codeine]

10. It does have its moments. nt

[hfojvt]

9. consider this guy

http://www.kmbc.com/news/amber-alert-issued-for-missing-girl-from-southwest-mo/24549338

At age 45, for some reason, he allegedly decided to kidnap, rape and murder a 10 year old girl.

That would seem to be his first offense. So what made him decide "today's the day"? Was he just driving somewhere and saw an 'opportunity'? Did he spend a number of months driving around looking for opportunities? Did he decide "well now that I am old, I do not care if I goto prison for the rest of my life"? (He looks like he is 55 in his picture, hence he may feel as old as he looks).

I just find it odd. He spent so much time living a seemingly normal life, only to do something monstrous.

[Maraya1969]

15. He probably had the impulses for a long time and something

caused him to lose control and act on them.

[hifiguy]

11. The brain is the most complex known thing in

the universe. The possibilities for "off" wiring are doubtless near infinite. I speak from experience as a dx'd Aspie.

Brain science is a fascinating field of research and maybe it will yield clues in the future.

[Beta Male]

12. "The Woodsman"

It's a film starring Kevin Bacon as a pedophile who's been paroled from prison, and it's the most honest portrayal of that particular psychpathy I've ever seen, neither demonizing his character nor making any excuses. I believe you can watch it on YouTube, and recommend that you do so.

[LWolf]

16. The bottom line:

How do we both help pedophiles function appropriately and lead as normal a life as possible AND protect children? Can we do both? Should we?

Maybe someday we'll know how to treat brains that are wired differently in an effective way...but should we? If we could rewire a pedophile's brain, would some be tempted to rewire more differences away, differences that don't cause harm to others?

I don't really have any answers.