Pedophilia: nature or nurture? Curable or incurable?

Question

There is a difference between pedophiles and child abusers.
Pedophiles are sexually attracted to prepubescent children, meaning they are not attracted to teenagers. Also, there are pedophiles who have managed to keep their urges under control and have never abused a child.

I just saw a documentary on this and a neurologist HYPOTHESIZED that pedophilia came from nature, not nurture. That there is a part of the brain that triggers sexual emotions upon seeing children, instead of nurturing emotions like non-pedophilic folks. What do you think?

UnknownXYZ · Accepted Answer

If attraction is *not* a choice then I don't see how this sticks. It has to be natural and "incurable" otherwise isn't a double standard to say that not all things we are attracted is a choice. Well, maybe not a choice can you force someone to not be attracted to something anymore? I feel like there is a big negative stigma attached to this topic so people are against it (like homosexually and slowly- and very slowly- incest). Whatever people say against pedophilia is this just reinventing the wheel of "I don't like it, therefore it is wrong" just like homosexuality. The only plausible argument I have seen is that pedophilia is considered a "mental disorder" but I know too little about it so have a solid opinion.

FakeName123 · Accepted Answer

Nurture. I think there are two kinds of pedophiles:

1. For these it's all about the power. Ruining and corrupting someone innocent and feeling all powerful through it. A form of sadism. Statistically most pedophiles have been victims of sexual abuse themselves. So it's a broken person getting a kick from their perceived powerlessness in the past on applying the power themselves. The abused becoming the abusive.

2. These kinds are just mentally stuck in their childhood. For whatever reason they haven't really grown up and thus really love those young boys/girls. Ethically still questionable, but I wouldn't call it ill-intended.

Mustachekitteh · Accepted Answer

Both.

SnowHearth · Answer

It's not natural, and it can be cured.

jacquesvol · Answer

I suspect deeply rooted problems during early puberty as the cause.
But that's just my laylman's opinion.

Sexual drive comes from nature, no doubt.
The causes of the way it manifests itself with the person haven't been determined yet, as far as iI know. There have been many people emitting theories. They failed to convinced their peers until now.

I didn't read yet about a 'treatment' that works convincingly.
(Not concerning paedophilia, nor about homosexuality.)

Yumix · Answer

"Pedophiles are sexually attracted to prepubescent children, meaning they are not attracted to teenagers. "

finally someone who gets it lol.

I don't know if it has something to do with nurture... I don't think. But from what I've heard it's not curable, but you can help people to control it.

White_Sun · Answer

I think it is a pleasure to kill perverts and ignorers

Anonymous · Answer

It's either nature, or 'nurture' being events that happen prior to or early in puberty. I don't think people who aren't pedophiles at like age 20 magically become one later.

By the point someone 'is' a pedophile, it seems to be fairly fixed. While I personally think there may be ways to downplay the urge, it really can't be easily 'fixed' and if they are exclusively pedophiles, that's how they're going to remain, period.

Anonymous · Answer

... nature or nurture?

Anonymous · Answer

if i like ages 13 to 19 am i an ephebophile?

Pedophilia: nature or nurture? Curable or incurable?

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