(I want to start off this very controversial [ content-wise ] article by saying, any type of sexual contact with a child is repugnant and deplorable. If you read on, you'll find that this article will in no way defend such actions.)
Yes, there is a difference. Estimates for pedophilia range shockingly high (anywhere from 15% to over 50%). But there is a difference between pedophiles and child molesters. That key difference is the action. Most pedophiles are non-offending pedophiles. Meaning they have never touched a child in a sexual manner (and many don't intend to). However, all child molesters have.
Most pedophiles are non-offending pedophiles. "So if these people recognise that this is wrong, why don't they just stop lusting after children?" One of the first things that should be acknowledged (and confirmed through quite a few psychiatric and neurophysiological studies) is that in cases of pedophilia there is a marked difference in brain physiology. It is not a choice. And while most pedophiles can go their entire lives without offending, it's the ones that do offend that get the attention.
One of the questions that often gets asked is "if they can control it or if they have a hard time, why do they not seek help?". The answer is actually fairly simple, our laws aren't structured to help these people. Things such as doctor-patient privilege or attorney-client confidentiality are bound by something akin to a morality clause. That is, if a doctor or lawyer suspects that their client is likely to harm another person, that privilege or confidentiality goes out the window. When it comes to other crimes lawyers tend to be fairly lenient. But when it comes to pedophilia, doctors and lawyers alike tend to be overzealous in reporting. Because the potential victim or victims are children, these professionals tend to want to err on the side of caution (which is completely understandable). However, what this means for a non-offending pedophile, is that even though they may have NEVER done anything close to even harassment of a child, they will still get put on the sex offender registry and/or arrested.
Another thing is that there are quite a few forums online for pedophiles who wish to NOT offend and are seeking help from others to do so. This gives further credence to what the studies have shown and that is most pedophiles know that it's wrong and have no wish to act upon their urges. But because sexual harassment/molestation of a child is such a heinous offence (and rightfully so), the stigma of admitting to such a sexual proclivity, even if there is no history to show it will happen, prevents them from doing so.
Now, like extremists of anything (religion, creed, nation, etc...) the ones most people are aware of are child molesters. And the ones that get portrayed in the media are often the worst ones. Just like the Muslim extremist group ISIS or the Christian fanatics the Westboro Baptist Church, these are the people that people tend to think of when the word pedophile comes to mind. But just as the aforementioned groups represent a minority of the actual population, so do child molesters to pedophiles.
Don't get me wrong, I 100% advocate the jailing of child molesters. But non-offending pedophiles are different. A major objection that comes up is that pedophiles may act on their urges and so the proposed solution is that we'd be better off neutering/castrating them. As John Douglas (a retired FBI profiler and one of the original founders of the BSU/BAU) once wrote (roughly paraphrasing) "when you force castration [of all pedophiles], the end result is not docile/meek child molesters, but angry ones. Which makes them an even greater threat to children." I do think that it should be offered anonymously if the pedophile so chooses, because if a pedophile has already gotten to that state mentally that he wants to do something to prevent something bad from happening, these are the ones most serious about their "rehabilitation". These are the ones that should be allowed to live their lives free of harassment.
Another thing of note is that not all child molesters are pedophiles (I'm talking mid double digits). "Wait, what?" Studies have shown that not all child molesters have a sexual proclivity towards children. Some of them suffer from various anger and violence related disorders, while others simply because the children were what were available to them. These are the people that are a true menace to society and the young, not non offending pedophiles. And these are the ones that should be vilified and discriminated against.
Hopefully, with this article, I have cleared up some misconceptions regarding pedophiles and child molesters. None of the above was written as an excuse or justification for the heinous crimes that are perpetrated upon children. Like all other articles on this blog, it is written to hopefully enlighten and shine a light on commonly misunderstood stigmas/stereotypes.
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