VARIETIES OF SEX OFFENDERS VS. CHILDREN: PEDOPHILES
The pedophiles are the commonest variety and constitute from perhaps one quarter to one third of the offenders vs. children. This prevalence is no surprise: a sexual interest in children (or a broad age tolerance for sexual partners) probably underlies the offense behavior of most of the varieties. The term “pedophile” is somewhat unfortunate since these men evidently did not consciously prefer children as sexual partners, but simply found them acceptable. In about half of the cases some degree of sociosexual deprivation existed at the time of tire offense, which may have triggered the behavior. Of course, sociosexual deprivation is a chronic condition with most men; at least it is uncommon to find a man who claims he has all the sociosexual contact he wants. Consequently, the finding concerning the pedophiles is significant only in comparison with the other varieties of offenders vs. children. While with some people sociosexual deprivation stems from shyness and feelings of inferiority and insecurity, such internal handicaps were rather uncommon in those pedophiles who were interested in children per se and who did not turn to them only after attempts to contact adult females had failed. Indeed, not a few pedophiles had quite adequate sexual relationships (in terms of frequency) with women at the time of offense.
In the small number of instances where any deep affection existed between the offender and the child, the former was usually a pedophile, but even among pedophiles affectionate relationships were uncommon. This lack is to be expected, considering the necessarily different interests and outlooks of adults and children, and the fact that even physical intimacy is difficult and dangerous to repeat and maintain if the child and adult are unrelated. Lastly, the usual male promiscuity plus the transitory interest of the child make for temporary rather than long-term relationships.
Of all the varieties, the pedophiles had the longest records of interest in and sexual activity with children. Of all offenders vs. children whose interest and/or activity covered 20 or more years, nine out of ten were pedophiles. Of those with a ten- to 19-year span, two thirds were pedophiles. Such lengthy durations were not unusual among offenders vs. children: between one third and two fifths of them had records of ten or more years. It is evident that a reasonably prudent pedophile can indulge in his predilection for years before the human law and the law of averages catch up with him. In fact, our most extensive pedophile, who had sexual contact with hundreds of little girls and boys, died in his sixties with never an arrest and only a few “close calls” in his case history.
One pedophile, who was also sociosexually underdeveloped, had a case history which affords a simple story of the genesis of his pedophilia. As a child he had gratifying prepubertal sex play with girls, but in early postpubertal life he found his female peers had become much more difficult to deal with. The days of unashamed mutual exploration and play were ended, the girls were now aware of social demands, and had something of an adult attitude toward sex. The boy felt awkward and embarrassed with girls his own age, a typical early teen-age situation, but unlike the typical teenager he responded by reverting to females of prepubertal age. This led to his first arrest, and when news of this spread through his high school his stunted heterosexual life with girls of his own years was blighted still more, which served to engender more pedophilic activity. His first coitus with an adult came at age eighteen when an aggressive married woman seduced him. The experience was not particularly enjoyable and was marred by fear at the time and guilt later. His feelings of inferiority and shyness were exacerbated. Since his teens he had been almost wholly attracted by prepubescent girls, and viewed women with disinterest or apprehension. He stated, “I just can’t help it… I can’t control myself.” His pedophilic activity was confined to petting during which he did not ejaculate; instead he would go home and masturbate. The petting was emotionally satisfying. As an adult on parole, he attempted to follow the prison psychologists’ advice and establish a relationship with women. His first attempt was evidently so clumsy and uninspired that the woman refused a date saying, “I don’t go out with queers.” This had a crushing effect upon his morale and he turned again to children who were more likely to accept him.
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