COUN2000 Introduction to Sexology Attitudes and Values

Introduction

Paraphilia is defined as a recurrent and persistent sexual interest that is atypical in nature. This condition can impair the lives of the people who are affected by paraphilia. There are eight paraphilias which include- frotteurism, sexual sadism, Pedophilia, fetishism, voyeurism, exhibitionism, sexual masochism, and transvestic fetishism. In this paper, the focus will be on Pedophilia involves indulging in sexual activity with a pubertal child. (Fisher & Marwaha, 2020). 

This paper will highlight the effect of Pedophilia within a particular age group in men and the treatments and strategies that needs to be implemented for the people suffering from the disease. Pedophilia is a disorder that arouses sexual desire towards a child, which is an offensive phenomenon that can adversely affect both the victim and their family. In 2011-2012, there were 5,828 cases of sexual abuse on children that were reported in Australian States and territories. (Fisher & Marwaha, 2020).  The paper will highlight the role of nurses in managing the symptoms and improving patient's care.

Discussion

Pedophilia in men with specific age group

Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder that urges sexual desire in a person towards a child.  The person having this condition is at least 16 years old, and the prepubescent child is at least five years. This condition prevails mainly in men with an age group of 40- 79 years. Studies show that about 3% to 5 % of the general population is affected by pedophilia. (Tenbergen et al., 2015). The population-based study based on the Berlin Male Study was done where age-dependence, erectile dysfunction and their relation to health variables were determined in about 6000 men aged between 40-79. About 1915 men were involved in the first phase of the study. They participated in the sexological study through a questionnaire on sexual behaviour and experiences. 57 % of this group's men showed at least one arousal pattern associated with paraphilia as a part of fantasies. 46.9% used them during masturbation, and approx. 44% acted these patterns in their relationships. 3.8 % behaved badly towards children. (Tenbergen et al., 2015)

The reasons for suffering from Pedophilia

Although the main reason for Pedophilia is unknown, researchers have started linking this condition with the function of the brain. Studies show that various neurological characteristics that are present at birth might cause or increase the chances of being pedophilic. (Tenbergen et al., 2015). Studies show that the pedophilic patient is not deficit in cognitive flexibility or memory by deficit in inhibiting responses. Personality disorders and substance abuses are the major risk factors for Pedophilia. (Malón, 2012).  Pedophilic men have high rate of head injuries before 13 years of age that has a causative effect on cognitive functioning. (Poeppl et al., 2013). Pedophilia can result due to cortical developmental plasticity in childhood. (Zhong et al., 2013). Studies show that Pedophilia co-occurs with various different psychopathologies like low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, etc. (Jahnke, 2018). The environment also plays a vital role and increase the chances to become a Pedophile. The abused-abuser phenomenon plays a major role in the occurrence of Pedophilia. The reported numbers of Pedophiles who were abused in their childhood range from twenty-eight per cent to ninety-three per cent. (Bach & Demuth, 2018).

Risks associated with Pedophilia

Pedophiles are thus more likely to abuse a child sexually. Sexual assault will not just impact the victim, but it will also affect the lives of the family and friends. It has numerous consequences that last for a lifetime, spanning generations with adverse effects on education, employment, health and economic wellbeing of the victim, their families and the community. (Mohr, Turner & Jerry, 2019). 

Treatment and strategies for Pedophilia

Cognitive behaviour therapy can be a vital intervention for treating Pedophilia. It will help to reduce the behaviour, attitude, belief that are more likely to increase sexual activities against the child. This therapy involves training the patient suffering from Pedophilia, to control themselves and change their views on sexual activities with children. (Fedoroff, 2018).  Relapse prevention is the common form where a Pedophilia patient is trained to identify and respond to the situation in a positive way. (Webb et al., 2012)

Behavioural treatment will target the reduction of sexual arousal in men for children through satiation and aversion. It aims to teach the patient to control their sexual arousal. The aversive technique is helpful in suppressing the sexual desire with the children by pairing stimuli like an unpleasant smell that is ammonia along with sexual stimuli that depict children. It involves identifying those situations where a patient is at high risk of indulging in sexual activity with a child.  Identifying the precursor of relapse and developing strategies to avoid the situation, such as spending less time with children. (Moen, 2015). Developing strategies to cope up with the situations.

Sex drive reduction through pharmacological interventions- there are various drugs that help to manage the Pedophilic feeling while unaltering their sexual preferences. Drugs like antiandrogens help to reduce sexual arousal by interfering with testosterone activities. (Thibaut, 2011).

Surgical castration- it has the same effect as antiandrogens. Removing testes eliminates the production of androgens which can result in sex drive reduction in permanent form. This intervention has been performed on the sex offenders in Netherland and Germany. (Stojanovski, 2011).

Group treatment program is useful for the patients of Pedophile. The treatment focuses on decreasing sexual desires and acquiring heterosexual skills. This will eventually help in engaging the patient in adult heterosexual relationships. As the source of this condition can be psychological and social problems, these can be handled by giving social support. Social support to the patients can be provided by interacting them with other Pedophiles. (Fedoroff, 2018).   

Conclusion

Thus Pedophilia can change the behaviour of an individual in a negative way. The arousal of sexual desires towards a child can mainly be seen in male with age varying between 40 -79 years. This will not only affect the victim but will also affect their family and friends. Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder that might be due to depression and anxiety or head injury in childhood.  Interventions such as cognitive therapy, behavioural therapy, sex drive reduction, etc., can be helpful in reducing the sexual arousal of the patient. It is always advisable for the patient to control their feeling and stay away from stimuli such as avoiding being surrounded by children for a long period of time. These strategies will help to reduce the adverse effect of this mental condition and prove a safe environment for everyone.

References

Bach, M. H., & Demuth, C. (2018). Therapists’ experiences in their work with sex offenders and people with pedophilia: A literature review. Europe's journal of psychology, 14(2), 498. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6016037/

Fedoroff, J. P. (2018). Can people with pedophilia change?: Yes they can!. Current sexual health reports, 10(4), 207-212. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11930-018-0166-1

Fisher, K. A., & Marwaha, R. (2020). Paraphilia. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554425/

Jahnke, S. (2018). The stigma of pedophilia: Clinical and forensic implications. European Psychologist, 23(2), 144. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000325

Malón, A. (2012). Pedophilia: A diagnosis in search of a disorder. Archives of sexual behavior, 41(5), 1083-1097. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-012-9919-5

Moen, O. M. (2015). The ethics of pedophilia. Etikk i praksis, 9(1), 111-124. https://www.duo.uio.no/handle/10852/48811

Mohr, J. W., Turner, R. E., & Jerry, M. (2019). Pedophilia and exhibitionism. University of Toronto Press.

Poeppl, T. B., Nitschke, J., Santtila, P., Schecklmann, M., Langguth, B., Greenlee, M. W., ... & Mokros, A. (2013). Association between brain structure and phenotypic characteristics in pedophilia. Journal of psychiatric research, 47(5), 678-685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.01.003

Stojanovski, V. (2011). Surgical castration of sex offenders and its legality: the case of the Czech Republic. Journal on Legal and Economic Issues of Central Europe. https://is.muni.cz/publication/951882/cs

Tenbergen, G., Wittfoth, M., Frieling, H., Ponseti, J., Walter, M., Walter, H., Beier, K. M., Schiffer, B., & Kruger, T. H. (2015). The Neurobiology and Psychology of Pedophilia: Recent Advances and Challenges. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 9, 344. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00344

Tenbergen, G., Wittfoth, M., Frieling, H., Ponseti, J., Walter, M., Walter, H., ... & Kruger, T. H. (2015). The neurobiology and psychology of pedophilia: recent advances and challenges. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 9, 344. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00344/full

Thibaut, F. (2011). Pharmacological treatment of sex offenders. Sexologies, 20(3), 166-168. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1158136011000363

Webb, C. A., DeRubeis, R. J., Dimidjian, S., Hollon, S. D., Amsterdam, J. D., & Shelton, R. C. (2012). Predictors of patient cognitive therapy skills and symptom change in two randomized clinical trials: The role of therapist adherence and the therapeutic alliance. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80(3), 373. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-08581-001

Zhong, J., Rifkin-Graboi, A., Ta, A. T., Yap, K. L., Chuang, K. H., Meaney, M. J., & Qiu, A. (2014). Functional networks in parallel with cortical development associate with executive functions in children. Cerebral Cortex, 24(7), 1937-1947. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bht051

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