Pedophilia

Pedophilia
: Sexual fondness and activity of adults with children. Pedophilia is a form of paraphilia (deviant sexual behavior). Pedophilia is sexual child abuse. Child abuse comprises four basic types of mistreatment: child neglect, physical abuse of a child, emotional abuse of a child, and sexual abuse of a child. Sexual abuse is the least frequently reported form of child abuse (6% of all cases). Experts believe that sexual abuse may be the most underreported type of child maltreatment because of the secrecy, the "conspiracy of silence" that so often surrounds these cases. Sexual abuse includes fondling a child's genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials. The diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sexual child abuse are complex. Several points might be made here: The diagnosis of sexual child abuse involves a thorough nonjudgmental history of the immediate events as well as a review of potential similar experiences often independently done by a physician, social worker, and the police department. A complete physical exam of the child which may include the taking of photographs to document sexual abuse is necessarily followed by x- rays and possible laboratory tests. Pedophiles (people who have sexually abused children) often require intense psychological and pharmacological therapy prior to release into the community, because of the high rate of repeat offenders. Children’s school programs regarding “good touch...bad touch” can provide parents and other caregivers with a forum in which to role- play and learn to avoid potentially harmful scenarios. Parents should make sure that their child’s daycare center/preschool is licensed and has an open door policy regarding parental visitation.
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In psychiatry, an abnormal attraction to children by an adult for sexual purposes. [G. pais, child, + philos, fond]

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pe·do·phil·ia .pēd-ə-'fil-ē-ə, .ped- or chiefly Brit pae·do·phil·ia .pēd- n sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object

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pe·do·phil·ia (pe″do-filґe-ə) [pedo-1 + -philia] [DSM-IV] a paraphilia in which an adult has recurrent, intense sexual urges or sexually arousing fantasies of engaging in or repeatedly engages in sexual activity with a prepubertal child. pedophilic adj

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pedophilia — An abnormal obsession with children as sex objects. A person who acts upon this obsession, by molesting a child, taking explicit photographs, and performing other acts specified by law, is guilty of a crime. Category: Criminal Law Category: Small …   Law dictionary

  • pedophilia — 1905, from Gk. pais (gen. paidos) child (see PEDO (Cf. pedo )) + philos loving see PHILE (Cf. phile)). First attested in Havelock Ellis …   Etymology dictionary

  • pedophilia — [ped΄ə fil′ē ə, pē΄dəfil′ē ə] n. [ PEDO 1 + PHILIA] an abnormal condition in which an adult has a sexual desire for children …   English World dictionary

  • Pedophilia — This article is primarily about the sexual interest in prepubescent children. For the sexual act, see Child sexual abuse. For the primary sexual interest in 11–14 year old pubescents, see Hebephilia. For mid to late adolescents (15 19), see… …   Wikipedia

  • pedophilia — /pee deuh fil ee euh/, n. Psychiatry. sexual desire in an adult for a child. [1905 10; < NL; see PEDO 1, PHILIA] * * * ▪ sexual behaviour also spelled  Paedophilia,         psychosexual disorder in which an adult s arousal and sexual… …   Universalium

  • pedophilia — noun /piːdəˈfɪlɪə/ Sexual or erotic feelings or desires directed by adults towards children. Entire books have been written about the role of scandal in US politics (Garment, 1992). Offenses include smoking marijuana, hiring illegal aliens,… …   Wiktionary

  • pedophilia — noun a sexual attraction to children • Syn: ↑paedophilia • Hypernyms: ↑paraphilia * * * pedophilia etc., varr. pædophilia, etc …   Useful english dictionary

  • pedophilia — noun Etymology: New Latin Date: 1906 sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object • pedophiliac or pedophilic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • pedophilia — ped|o|phi|li|a [ ,pedou fıliə ] noun uncount sexual desire for children in an adult …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • pedophilia — [[t]pi͟ːdəfɪ̱liə[/t]] see paedophilia …   English dictionary

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