Paraphilias are recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviors that are distressing or disabling and that involve inanimate objects, children or other nonconsenting adults, or suffering or humiliation of oneself or the partner.
Sexual preferences that seem unusual to another person or health care practitioner do not constitute paraphilia simply because they are unusual. The arousal patterns are considered pathologic only when the following apply:
- They become obligatory for sexual functioning (ie, erection or orgasm cannot occur without the stimulus).
- They involve inappropriate partners (eg, children, nonconsenting adults).
- They cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Pedophilia: the sexual attraction to prepubescent or peripubescent children. This is thought to be the most common of paraphilias. The victims are generally 13 years of age and younger (sexually immature).
Often the children are known to the person (neighbor, friend's child, relative, their own child). An "Exclusive Type" is only attracted to children while a "Nonexclusive Type" may be attracted to adults as well. Those offending may justify their behavior as mutually beneficial, educational or even provoked by the children themselves. Some people "groom" the children so as to avoid "forcing" them to engage in sexual activities. Others may resort to abducting or taking in foster children although this is not as common."
