Differences between pedophilia and pedophilia

Child sexual abuse is a severe crime that has serious effects on the psychological development of minors. Most people use the terms "pedophile" and "pedophile" interchangeably to refer to those who carry out these types of acts, considering them synonymous.

However, although deeply linked both concepts do not refer to exactly the same thing. That is why in this article it is proposed to distinguish and show the differences between pedophilia and pedophilia.

Defining pedophilia

Pedophilia or pedophilia is a paraphilia, that is, a disorder of sexual inclination characterized by the presence of recurrent fantasies that produce a high level of sexual arousal in which the object of desire is an object, non-consenting persons or entities or a situation of humiliation and suffering of one's own and alien. The experimentation of said fantasies can lead to their realization and / or feelings of intense discomfort for those who suffer from them.

In the specific case of pedophilia, the object of desire or what causes sexual attraction are

prepubescent boys or girls. Specifically, it can be considered a chronophilia, because there is a great difference between the age of the subject and that of the object of desire. For its diagnosis it is necessary that the subject is over sixteen years of age and that the victim or object of desire is at least five years younger.

As a general rule, the pedophile will seek contact with his object of desire, frequently resorting to pornographic images and self-stimulating based on his fantasies, but you don't have to try to have sex.

What do we call pedophilia?

With regard to pedophiles, those individuals in which the pedophile's own fantasies have been brought to reality are considered as such. That is, pedophilia is the committing a minor sexual abuse.

This abuse includes all conduct in which the minor is used as a sexual object by an individual with whom there is an unequal relationship in relation to age, power or maturity.

It is a criminal practice punishable by law which can cause serious repercussions on the present and / or future psychosocial and sexual development of the attacked minor. Even if the sexual relationship is consensual by the minor, if the minor is below the age of sexual consent, the act itself will be considered abuse, being classified as violation. The consensual sexual relationship between subjects at the end of adolescence with individuals of at least thirteen years of age is not taken into account as such.

• Related article: "Prevent and detect child sexual abuse early”

Common elements and main differences

Once the definitions of both pedophilia and pedophilia are visualized, it is easy to establish what elements they have in common and how they differ.

In both cases, we are talking about the presence of an illicit relationship between an adult and a minor, with a romantic or sexual attraction on the part of the former towards the latter. This attraction occurs continuously over time, persisting for at least six months.

The main difference is in the fact that sexual attraction whether or not in an action. Whereas a pedophile may only feel the urge and maintain recurring sexual fantasies in that their object of desire are minors, a pedophile is considered to be the one who has committed the sexual act in Yes. In other words, while the pedophile has had sexual relations with a child, the pedophile does not actually perform the act (in which case he or she would become a pedophile).

So that not all pedophiles are pedophiles, while as a general rule every pedophile is a pedophile. However, this is not always true either, since it is possible to find cases of sexual abuse of minors without them being the object of sexual preference by the adult.

Criminal imputability

Pedophilia is a disorder of sexual orientation or choice of sexual object, said choice of sexual object being limited. However, as a general rule, the person who suffers from it is perfectly able to realize what it means for the minors involved, the damage caused and the fact that it is a serious crime typified by law. Their decision-making capacity is not altered, so they are fully responsible for their actions.

In this way, pedophilia and different activities carried out by pedophiles (corruption of minors, creation, possession or possession of child pornography, etc.) are punishable by law, considering fully chargeable to most of these individuals.

• Related article: "7 myths about child sexual abuse (pedophilia)”