Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Current Sexual Health Reports 4/2018

26.07.2018 | Current Controversies (PJ Kleinplatz and C Moser, Section Editors)

Can Pedophiles Change?

verfasst von: James M. Cantor

Erschienen in: Current Sexual Health Reports | Ausgabe 4/2018

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To provide a critical analysis of purported claims to have cured pedophilia, including their scientific and policy implications.

Recent Findings

A single recent study has been in published in which authors claimed to find evidence that half of pedophiles cease to be pedophiles, when tested with a phallometric test in use at those authors’ facility. Bootleg simulation of the original dataset confirmed prior criticisms: When analyzed correctly, the data were indistinguishable from random. Despite that the study was not a treatment study, claims continue to appear that pedophiles can become non-pedophiles.

Summary

To tell pedophiles that they cease to be pedophiles relieves them from any need to develop skills for managing that pedophilia (the current clinical consensus of the field). Although it is hoped that there may one day be methods to “convert” pedophiles into non-pedophiles, there is no evidence we are there yet.
Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Rahman Q. The neurodevelopment of human sexual orientation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2005;29:1057–66.CrossRef Rahman Q. The neurodevelopment of human sexual orientation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2005;29:1057–66.CrossRef
2.
Zurück zum Zitat •• Dyshniku F, Murray ME, Fazio RL, Lykins AD, Cantor JM. Minor physical anomalies as a window into the prenatal origins of pedophilia. Arch Sex Behav. 2015;44:2151–9. Study provides direct, physical evidence of features of the body that develop before, and only before, birth being significantly different among pedophiles than non-pedophiles, demonstrating that the factors leading to pedophilia were in effect before birth.CrossRef •• Dyshniku F, Murray ME, Fazio RL, Lykins AD, Cantor JM. Minor physical anomalies as a window into the prenatal origins of pedophilia. Arch Sex Behav. 2015;44:2151–9. Study provides direct, physical evidence of features of the body that develop before, and only before, birth being significantly different among pedophiles than non-pedophiles, demonstrating that the factors leading to pedophilia were in effect before birth.CrossRef
3.
Zurück zum Zitat •• Fazio RL, Dyshniku F, Lykins AD, Cantor JM. Leg length versus torso length in pedophilia: further evidence of atypical physical development early in life. Sex Abus: J Res Treat. 2017;29:500–14. Study replicates the presence of significant differences in physical development among pedophiles and demonstrates the effect size to be substantially larger than what is typically associated with environmental factors but similar to neurodevelopmental ones. CrossRef •• Fazio RL, Dyshniku F, Lykins AD, Cantor JM. Leg length versus torso length in pedophilia: further evidence of atypical physical development early in life. Sex Abus: J Res Treat. 2017;29:500–14. Study replicates the presence of significant differences in physical development among pedophiles and demonstrates the effect size to be substantially larger than what is typically associated with environmental factors but similar to neurodevelopmental ones. CrossRef
4.
Zurück zum Zitat •• Fazio RL, Lykins AD, Cantor JM. Elevated rates of atypical-handedness in paedophilia: theory and implications. Laterality. 2014;19:690–704. Study replicates and extends finding of handedness differences among pedophiles. Because handedness is determined by brain structure (relative dominance of the cerebral hemispheres), the data demonstrate an association between pedophilia and brain structure. Because handedness develops before birth, the association indicates the neurological difference was present before birth. CrossRef •• Fazio RL, Lykins AD, Cantor JM. Elevated rates of atypical-handedness in paedophilia: theory and implications. Laterality. 2014;19:690–704. Study replicates and extends finding of handedness differences among pedophiles. Because handedness is determined by brain structure (relative dominance of the cerebral hemispheres), the data demonstrate an association between pedophilia and brain structure. Because handedness develops before birth, the association indicates the neurological difference was present before birth. CrossRef
5.
Zurück zum Zitat •• Seto MC. Is pedophilia a sexual orientation? Arch Sex Behav. 2012;41:231–6. Article provides a comprehensive review of the correlates of sexual interest patterns, exploring both the similarities and differences among these categories. CrossRef •• Seto MC. Is pedophilia a sexual orientation? Arch Sex Behav. 2012;41:231–6. Article provides a comprehensive review of the correlates of sexual interest patterns, exploring both the similarities and differences among these categories. CrossRef
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Alford GS, Morin C, Atkins M, Schoen L. Masturbatory extinction of deviant sexual arousal: a case study. Behav Ther. 1987;18:265–71.CrossRef Alford GS, Morin C, Atkins M, Schoen L. Masturbatory extinction of deviant sexual arousal: a case study. Behav Ther. 1987;18:265–71.CrossRef
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Josiaseen RC, Fantuzzo J, Rosen AC. Treatment of pedophilia using multistage aversion therapy and social skills training. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1980;11:55–61.CrossRef Josiaseen RC, Fantuzzo J, Rosen AC. Treatment of pedophilia using multistage aversion therapy and social skills training. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1980;11:55–61.CrossRef
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Foote WE, Laws DR. A daily alternation procedure for orgasmic reconditioning with a pedophile. J Behav Ther Exp Ther. 1981;12:267–73.CrossRef Foote WE, Laws DR. A daily alternation procedure for orgasmic reconditioning with a pedophile. J Behav Ther Exp Ther. 1981;12:267–73.CrossRef
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Johnston P, Hudson SM, Marshall WL. The effects of masturbatory reconditioning with nonfamilial child molesters. Behav Res Ther. 1992;30:559–61.CrossRef Johnston P, Hudson SM, Marshall WL. The effects of masturbatory reconditioning with nonfamilial child molesters. Behav Res Ther. 1992;30:559–61.CrossRef
10.
Zurück zum Zitat VanDeventer AD, Laws DR. Orgasmic reconditioning to redirect sexual arousal in pedophiles. Behav Ther. 1978;9:748–65.CrossRef VanDeventer AD, Laws DR. Orgasmic reconditioning to redirect sexual arousal in pedophiles. Behav Ther. 1978;9:748–65.CrossRef
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Kelly RJ. Behavioral reorientation of pedophiliacs: can it be done? Clin Psychol Rev. 1982;2:387–408.CrossRef Kelly RJ. Behavioral reorientation of pedophiliacs: can it be done? Clin Psychol Rev. 1982;2:387–408.CrossRef
12.
Zurück zum Zitat •• Seto MC. Pedophilia and sexual offending against children: theory, assessment, and intervention. Washington, DC: APA Books; 2008. This book continues to serve as the most comprehensive text on the subject matter, including both clinical and theoretical aspects. CrossRef •• Seto MC. Pedophilia and sexual offending against children: theory, assessment, and intervention. Washington, DC: APA Books; 2008. This book continues to serve as the most comprehensive text on the subject matter, including both clinical and theoretical aspects. CrossRef
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Tozdan S, Briken P. ‘I believed I could, so I did’—a theoretical approach on self-efficacy beliefs to positively influence men with a risk to sexually abuse children. Aggress Violent Behav. 2015;25:104–12.CrossRef Tozdan S, Briken P. ‘I believed I could, so I did’—a theoretical approach on self-efficacy beliefs to positively influence men with a risk to sexually abuse children. Aggress Violent Behav. 2015;25:104–12.CrossRef
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Müller K, Curry S, Ranger R, Briken P, Bradford J, Fedoroff JP. Changes in sexual arousal as measured by penile plethysmography in men with pedophilic sexual interest. J Sex Med. 2014;11:1221–9.CrossRef Müller K, Curry S, Ranger R, Briken P, Bradford J, Fedoroff JP. Changes in sexual arousal as measured by penile plethysmography in men with pedophilic sexual interest. J Sex Med. 2014;11:1221–9.CrossRef
15.
Zurück zum Zitat Briken P, Fedoroff JP, Bradford JW. Why can’t pedophilic disorder remit? Arch Sex Behav. 2014;43:1237–9.CrossRef Briken P, Fedoroff JP, Bradford JW. Why can’t pedophilic disorder remit? Arch Sex Behav. 2014;43:1237–9.CrossRef
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Tozdan S, Kalt A, Dekker A, Keller LB, Thiel S, Müller JL, et al. Why information matters: examining the consequence of suggesting that pedophilia is immutable. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2018;62:1241–61.CrossRef Tozdan S, Kalt A, Dekker A, Keller LB, Thiel S, Müller JL, et al. Why information matters: examining the consequence of suggesting that pedophilia is immutable. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2018;62:1241–61.CrossRef
17.
Zurück zum Zitat Fedoroff JP. Managing versus successfully treating paraphilic disorders. In Handbook of clinical sexuality for mental health professionals. Edited by Levine SB, Risen CB, Althof SE. Routledge; 2016:345–361. Fedoroff JP. Managing versus successfully treating paraphilic disorders. In Handbook of clinical sexuality for mental health professionals. Edited by Levine SB, Risen CB, Althof SE. Routledge; 2016:345–361.
18.
Zurück zum Zitat Fedoroff JP. Interventions that work. In: Psychiatric times; 2016. Fedoroff JP. Interventions that work. In: Psychiatric times; 2016.
19.
Zurück zum Zitat Bailey JM. A failure to demonstrate changes in sexual interest in pedophilic men: comment on Müller et al. (2014). Arch Sex Behav. 2015;44:249–52.CrossRef Bailey JM. A failure to demonstrate changes in sexual interest in pedophilic men: comment on Müller et al. (2014). Arch Sex Behav. 2015;44:249–52.CrossRef
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Cantor JM. Purported changes in pedophilia as statistical artifacts: comment on Müller et al.: (2014). Arch Sex Behav. 2015(44):253–4.CrossRef Cantor JM. Purported changes in pedophilia as statistical artifacts: comment on Müller et al.: (2014). Arch Sex Behav. 2015(44):253–4.CrossRef
21.
Zurück zum Zitat Lalumière ML. The lability of pedophilic interests as measured by phallometry. Arch Sex Behav. 2015;44:255–8.CrossRef Lalumière ML. The lability of pedophilic interests as measured by phallometry. Arch Sex Behav. 2015;44:255–8.CrossRef
22.
Zurück zum Zitat •• Mokros A, Habermeyer E. Regression to the mean mimicking changes in sexual arousal to child stimuli in pedophiles. Arch Sex Behav. 2016;45:1863–7. Analysis represents a perfect example of how to examine the validity of non-standard statistical methods, with simulations using the original dataset. CrossRef •• Mokros A, Habermeyer E. Regression to the mean mimicking changes in sexual arousal to child stimuli in pedophiles. Arch Sex Behav. 2016;45:1863–7. Analysis represents a perfect example of how to examine the validity of non-standard statistical methods, with simulations using the original dataset. CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Can Pedophiles Change?
verfasst von
James M. Cantor
Publikationsdatum
26.07.2018
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Current Sexual Health Reports / Ausgabe 4/2018
Print ISSN: 1548-3584
Elektronische ISSN: 1548-3592
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-018-0165-2

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 4/2018

Current Sexual Health Reports 4/2018 Zur Ausgabe

Sexual Orientation and Identity (E Coleman and J Vencill, Section Editors)

An Updated Review of the Literature on LGBTQ+ Intimate Partner Violence

Female Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders (T Lorenz and R Nappi, Section Editors)

Impact of Infertility on the Sexuality of Couples: an Overview

Female Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders (T Lorenz and R Nappi, Section Editors)

Sexual Desire in Women According to Reproductive Milestones

Sexual Orientation and Identity (E Coleman and J Vencill, Section Editors)

Neurocognitive Mechanisms in Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder

Current Controversies (PJ Kleinplatz and C Moser, Section Editors)

Can Pedophiles Change? Response to Opening Arguments and Conclusions

Update Urologie

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.