Pedophilia (sexual aggressions to children): in the mind of the pedophile.

Characteristics and basic aspects of the pedophile profile.

The sexual crime is perhaps the most rejected criminal modality in our society. Defenseless or weak victims such as children or women suffer a violation and transgression of the most intimate aspect of the person, leading to psychological torture. psychological torture most despicable and undeserved.

• "A 14-year-old Indian girl sets herself on fire after suffering a gang rape" ABC; 22/05/2015.
• "Actor Stephen Collins confesses to sexually abusing minors" LA VANGUARDIA; 04/23/2015.
• "Jail for an elderly man for sexually abusing his partner's eight-year-old granddaughter" Antena 3 noticias; 15/04/2015.
• "Arrested a teacher accused of abusing seven minors" EL PAÍS; 12/03/2015.
• "One accused of abusing and impregnating a girl: 'I was in love'". EL MUNDO; 19/02/2015.
• "Mike Tyson confesses he was sexually abused at age seven". Cuatro News; 02/11/2014.

These news headlines are only a brief overview of the many sexual abuses committed against minors. According to Noguerol (2005), the reported cases are only one-sixth of all existing cases.. But really, how many sexual aggressions and/or abuses of minors does our society suffer; what is pedophilia, what are its characteristics and typologies; and is there a psychopathological profile for the pedophile?

Epidemiological data: sexual assaults on children (pedophilia and pederasty)

It is alarming when professionals refer to epidemiological data. In 1998, a European seminar "Breaking Silences" was held in Valencia, Spain, where it was concluded that 23% of girls and 15% of boys in Spain suffer various types of sexual abuse; of these, only 40% receive help.of these only 40% receive help. Between 7 and 13 years of age is the most frequent age; and between 25 and 35% are under 7 years of age. For every child victim of sexual abuse, there are 3 girl victims (Vázquez, 2004).

As with many other problems, we experience sexual abuse and aggression as if it would never happen to us or to those close to us. But as the statistics indicate, sexual abuse of minors is a criminal act that, although quite frequent, remains mostly invisible. This means that it goes unreported and, sometimes, unrevealed to others.

The relevance of addressing this issue is not only marked by the degrading and humiliating act, but also by its consequences in the short, medium and long term. Consequences vary from person to person, as well as differences between crimes. We speak of modality (such as the typologies mentioned in the article), duration of the act A series of variables that converge from the moment of the facts until after the fact, will lead victims of very serious abuse to overcome it or not, as well as the existence of cases of mild abuse that remain internalized.

Thus, each sexual abuse can cause a series of sexual and affective traumas that interfere (In the video attached at the end of the article, we can come closer to understanding some of the traumas suffered by victims of sexual abuse during childhood).

Psychopathological profile of the pedophile's personality

Approaching the concept, characteristics and types of pedophilic acts

The pedophilia is a paraphiliawhere the adult feels sexual interest in the minor.. Currently, two types of pedophilia are distinguished: primary and secondary. The primary pedophiles are characterized by an avoidance and/or fear of sexual relations with adults, as well as a difficulty in interacting with their peers due to low self-esteem and a marked anger towards other adults. The secondary pedophileson the other hand, can have sexual relations with adults while fantasizing about children (Vázquez; 2005).

The diagnostic manual DSM-V (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) includes in the section of paraphilic disorders, pedophilia; sexual attraction of adults to minors. To be diagnosed with Pedophilia Disorder according to the DSM-IV the person must meet the following criteria:

302.2 (F65.4). Pedophilic disorder

• For a period of at least six months, intense sexual arousal and recurrent sexual fantasies, irrerenable sexual desires, or sharing involving sexual activity with one or more prepubertal children (usually under 13 years of age).

• The individual has fulfilled these irrepressible sexual desires, or the irrepressible desires or sexual fantasies cause significant distress or interpersonal problems.

• The individual is at least 16 years old and at least five years older than the child/children in Criterion A.

Note: Do not include an individual in late adolescence who has a sexual relationship with another individual who is 12 or 13 years old.

Pedophilia is chronic from its inception.

It is usually initiated at puberty or adolescence.

Profile of the pedophile

"According to the compilation of English and American studies by Hollin (1989), sexual offenders are malesthe rapes are usually carried out in the victim's own homefrequently at night and during the weekend" (Ortiz-Tallo, et al.; 2002). Garrido conducted a study with sex offenders where he concluded that sex offenders had a profile between 26-30 years of age. profile between 26-30 years oldThey did not have a qualified job, although they did have schooling, were mostly single, and only 20% had previously committed crimes.

Statistical data according to the Ministry of the Interior in December 1999 reveal that out of 30,661 men in prison, 1,440 are serving sentences for the commission of sexual offenses. That is, 4.6% of the total number of men were for a sexual offense. However, only 25 of the 2,742 women in prison were incarcerated for a sex offense, resulting in 0.91% of the total number of women in prison for sex offenses.This is 0.91% of the total number of women. It is this low number of women that leads many sex crime investigations (as in pedophilia studies) to focus on male samples. (Ortiz-Tallo, et al.; 2002). According to Vázquez (2005), women as sexual aggressors of children are anecdotal; being implicated in these crimes as accomplices by way of submission on the part of others. Overall, for every 1 minor boy victim of sexual abuse, there are 3 girl victims (Vázquez, 2004).

Although each pedophile has his or her preferences characteristics of the children (age, gender), its course is chronic from its onsetThe onset is usually during the pedophile's puberty and adolescence (although some may develop it in more adult stages). Vázquez (2005), affirms that more and more adolescents are aggressors of younger children.

Another marked characteristic of the pedophile is his or her cognitive distortions or erroneous thoughts dedicated to justify their deviant behavior. deviant behavior. The chronicity of the disorder, together with the cognitive distortions and the interpersonal relationship established between the child and the pedophile (manipulative and destructive; consequently lacking resistance) often leads to sexual abuse of the child. sexual abuse of the childinsidious and progressive. By progressive, we mean that, unfortunately, this type of abuse is prolonged over time, increasing the severity of the facts progressively. Contrary to what can happen in sexual aggressions to adults, where it usually happens in a punctual way, limited in time and between strangers. The pedophile usually knows his minor victim and abuses this relationship (there are few cases of abuse of unknown minors).

The pedophile's actions

Types of sexual acts performed by pedophiles on children:

• Exhibitionism (intense sexual arousal derived from the exposure of genitals by the pedophile to the child. This is one of the most frequent paraphilias).
• Voyeurism (the pedophile finds intense sexual arousal in observing the child naked or undressing, without his consent or knowledge. Masturbation may also occur during this).
• Fondling.
• Frotteruism (the pedophile finds sexual pleasure in touching or rubbing his genitals against the child).
• Masturbation in the presence of children.
• Oral sex.
• Anal or vaginal penetration (by the pedophile towards the child).

Pedophiles, as opposed to molesters or sexual offenders of older victims, do not use force. Pedophiles follow a series of strategies of psychic manipulations manipulation strategies towards the child in order to get him/her involved in the sexual activity. These strategies can be manifested through attraction: sympathy, buying or giving things, showing excessive interest or displaying childish behaviors. Many of them justify these acts by giving educational or pleasure value to the children, i.e., they claim that the child needs this learning or pleasure for its own good. This highlights the manipulative nature of pedophiles.

1. Clinical study: Psychological profile of sex offenders.

Ortiz-Tallo, et al. (2002), defend that sex offenders with adults start from a different nature than pedophiles.. In sex offending with adults, rape usually occurs through intimidation or force (as opposed to what usually happens with children). Thus, with adults, there is greater violence; thus, a behavior and personality similar to that of persons incarcerated for assaults and robberies with intimidation is expected in adult sexual offenders.

In a comparative study between three groups: adult sex offenses, child sex offenses and non-sexual offenses, Ortiz-Tallo et al. (2002) found the following results:

• The non-sex offender group presented a more altered personality profile. more altered personality profile The non-sex offender group presented a more altered and more severe personality profile, together with a higher alcohol and drug use than the sex offenders (adult and juvenile).

• The juvenile sex offender group was shown to be the group with the least personality disturbed group.. Scoring higher in dependent, phobic and compulsive personality traits.

Pedophiles present fewer personality disturbances and less severe personality traits than other types of sex offenders.

The pedophile's personality

Ortiz-Tallo et al. (2002), describe pedophiles as persons with interaction difficulties; seeking social acceptance; fearful of rejection, contempt and/or humiliation from their peers; with difficulties in assuming mature and independent roles and responsibilities.

They are people with rather low ability to achieve empathy and intimidationincapable or with great difficulty difficulty in establishing an emotional relationship with adults, leading them to resort to deviant emotional and sexualThey are unable or with great difficulty to establish an emotional relationship with adults, leading them to resort to deviant emotional and sexual relationships with minors. Therefore, therapeutic strategies should be aimed at improving their social skills as well as decreasing their social withdrawal and fear of interpersonal relationships among peers.

2. Bibliographic review: Personality pathology in pedophiles

Although studies in this field are scarce and their results are highly inconclusive, Becerra-García (2013) presents a current review of the predominant personality traits and disorders among pedophiles according to different clinical tests. In summary, we can highlight in the pedophile's personality with respect to control groups:

• Higher scores in the scales of incoherence, psychopathic deviation, paranoia, schizophrenia and obsessiveness.. Using less mature coping mechanisms .

• Higher scores in obsession y sexual dysfunction. Pedophiles who had been sexually victimized in childhood showed higher levels of hostility, sexual dysfunction, personal distress, and less empathy toward their victims than those who had not been sexually abused.

• The emotional distress of pedophiles was related to their higher levels of neuroticism and cognitive distortions about child sexuality with their obsessive traits.

• Higher levels of neuroticism and rigidity. But less impulsive behavior and ability to satisfy their needs than violent offenders.

• Higher scores on scales of borderline personalityHistrionic and especially in the obsessive-compulsive.

• They present a less secure less secure attachment style (avoidant and anxious-ambivalent style), than the control group.

• The authors find a marked personality pathology in pedophiles: lack of assertivenessThey also find deviations in their sexual behavior: alterations in arousal, discrimination, desire and thought inhibition.

Testimonies of victims of sexual abuse

In 2003, almost 4,000 cases of child abuse were registered, being almost half of the final percentage of existing cases. In this documentary, victims will speak about the harmful consequences they have suffered as a result of the abuse they suffered in their childhood.

Bibliographical references:

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). DSM-V diagnostic criteria reference guide ᵀᴹ.. Madrid: Panamericana.
• Becerra-García, J. A. (2013). is there a characteristic profile of personality psychopathology in pedophilia. Cuadernos de medicina psicosomática y psiquiatría de enlace., (105), 5.
• Ortiz-Tallo, M., Sánchez, L. M., & Cardenal, V. (2002). Psychological profile of sex offenders. A clinical study with Th. Millon's MCMI-II. Journal of Psychiatry of the Faculty of Medicine of Barcelona., 29(3), 144-152.
• Vázquez, B. (2005). Handbook of forensic psychology.. Madrid, Ed. Síntesis.