KRM 310 Chapter 8
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 8: SEXUAL ASSUALT OF
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Pedophilia: Clinical condition that involves intense sexual arousal fantasies
and urges directed at children.
o Pedophilia is a clinical condition that is not necessarily accompanied by
criminal action.
o When criminal action is involved, even though we may refer to the offender
as a pedophile, this is not the official term.
“Pedophilia” is a psychological or psychiatric condition that may require
treatment.
o The DSM-5 refers to pedophile as a condition in which, over a period of at
least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual
urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or
children (generally age 13 years or younger) occur.
This definition includes ‘urges’ and ‘fantasies’, which by themselves are
not criminal unless accompanied by action that is against the law.
o The DSM-5 further specifies that some pedophiles are sexually attracted
only to children (the exclusive type), whereas others are sexually
attracted to both children and adults (nonexclusive type).
One of 2 behaviours signifies the sexual interest in prepubertal children:
1. The adult has had some sexual contact with a child, or the adult has
masturbated to sexual fantasies or images involving children.
2. Criminal behavior may have been involved in the procuring of the images,
such as downloading pornography or soliciting the images from a child or
adolescent.
Hebephilia: The attraction to young adolescent girls or boys for sexual
gratification by adults, usually males. (Ages 13-15)
Intrafamilial Child molestation: Sexual acts between members of a family
when at least one participant is a minor.
o Most commonly perpetrated by men who molest their sexually immature
daughters or stepdaughters.
Extrafamilial Child molestation: Sexual contact with immature family
members by individuals from outside the family.
1
,KRM 310 Chapter 8
Erin Polyblank
Paraphilia: The clinical term for a sexual condition exhibited in fantasies,
urges, or behaviors involving nonhuman objects, suffering or humiliation of
oneself or one’s partner, or children or other nonconsenting persons.
o Denotes any intense and persistent sexual interests other than sexual
interest in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with consenting
human partners.
Eg. Repetitive sexual activity involving real or simulated suffering or
humiliation, such as bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism
(often referred to as BDSM).
o Also refers to strong sexual preferences for nonhuman objects, such as
animals or clothes belonging to another person; touching or rubbing
against a nonconsenting individual (frotteurism); exposing genitals to
nonconsenting persons (exhibitionism); or spying on others engaging in
private activities (voyeurism).
INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF CHILD SEX ABUSE
Child sexual abuse: Refers to any sexual activity involving a child that
provides gratification or stimulation to an adult or older adolescent.
The number of reported child sexual abuse is very underreported.
Over half of the total estimate of sexual offenses on children and adolescents
were at the hands of juvenile perpetrators, many of them acquaintance peers.
6% of men and 2% of women indicated some likelihood of having sex with a
child if they were guaranteed they would not be caught or punished.
o Best estimates of global child abuse indicate that about 73 million boys
and 150 million girls ages 17 and under have experienced various forms of
sexual violence.
It is evident that female adolescents with persistent antisocial behavior as
well as adult female offenders have often experienced child sexual abuse.
Research finds that incarcerated homosexual child sex offenders (CSOs) had
on the average, 31 victims, while heterosexual CSOs had an average of 62
victims.
Persons who identify themselves as agender, androgyne, cisgender, or
gender-fluid, for example, are very rarely reflected in contemporary research
studies.
o Thus, making it evident that the data is somewhat outdated.
2
, KRM 310 Chapter 8
Erin Polyblank
Although it is evident that child sex offenders are primarily males, it cannot
be ignored that there are also female offenders.
o Often female offenders are very young (12-16).
SITUATIONAL AND VICTIMIZATION CHARACTERISTICS
Men who sexually abused child victims were more likely to target stepchildren
or distant relatives, whereas women were more likely to target their own
biological children or children for whom they provide care.
According to stereotyped gender roles, a “normal” woman simply would not
wish to hurt a child.
o The stereotype further assumes that child sexual abuse perpetrated by a
woman is either the result of male coercion or severe mental health
problems.
o These types of explanations fit comfortably within early theories of female
offending more generally that de-scribed criminalized women as either
emotionally disturbed, maladapted to their feminine role, physiologically or
psychologically abnormal, or as choosing to become masculine in rebellion
against this ‘natural’ feminine role.
Women appear to be far less discriminating in the gender of their victims;
they commit sex offenses equally against both male and female victims.
o Research found that males offend against females nearly 90% of their
incidents.
o Female sex offenders, half of the victims were female.
Researchers believe that these findings could partly be explained by the
fact that women in some instances are coerced to participate by male
accomplices.
Male accomplices frequently impose their own victim preference
(females) on the women with whom they offend.
About one-quarter of female sex offenders fall into the category of being co-
offenders with males.
3
Erin Polyblank
CHAPTER 8: SEXUAL ASSUALT OF
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Pedophilia: Clinical condition that involves intense sexual arousal fantasies
and urges directed at children.
o Pedophilia is a clinical condition that is not necessarily accompanied by
criminal action.
o When criminal action is involved, even though we may refer to the offender
as a pedophile, this is not the official term.
“Pedophilia” is a psychological or psychiatric condition that may require
treatment.
o The DSM-5 refers to pedophile as a condition in which, over a period of at
least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual
urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or
children (generally age 13 years or younger) occur.
This definition includes ‘urges’ and ‘fantasies’, which by themselves are
not criminal unless accompanied by action that is against the law.
o The DSM-5 further specifies that some pedophiles are sexually attracted
only to children (the exclusive type), whereas others are sexually
attracted to both children and adults (nonexclusive type).
One of 2 behaviours signifies the sexual interest in prepubertal children:
1. The adult has had some sexual contact with a child, or the adult has
masturbated to sexual fantasies or images involving children.
2. Criminal behavior may have been involved in the procuring of the images,
such as downloading pornography or soliciting the images from a child or
adolescent.
Hebephilia: The attraction to young adolescent girls or boys for sexual
gratification by adults, usually males. (Ages 13-15)
Intrafamilial Child molestation: Sexual acts between members of a family
when at least one participant is a minor.
o Most commonly perpetrated by men who molest their sexually immature
daughters or stepdaughters.
Extrafamilial Child molestation: Sexual contact with immature family
members by individuals from outside the family.
1
,KRM 310 Chapter 8
Erin Polyblank
Paraphilia: The clinical term for a sexual condition exhibited in fantasies,
urges, or behaviors involving nonhuman objects, suffering or humiliation of
oneself or one’s partner, or children or other nonconsenting persons.
o Denotes any intense and persistent sexual interests other than sexual
interest in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with consenting
human partners.
Eg. Repetitive sexual activity involving real or simulated suffering or
humiliation, such as bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism
(often referred to as BDSM).
o Also refers to strong sexual preferences for nonhuman objects, such as
animals or clothes belonging to another person; touching or rubbing
against a nonconsenting individual (frotteurism); exposing genitals to
nonconsenting persons (exhibitionism); or spying on others engaging in
private activities (voyeurism).
INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE OF CHILD SEX ABUSE
Child sexual abuse: Refers to any sexual activity involving a child that
provides gratification or stimulation to an adult or older adolescent.
The number of reported child sexual abuse is very underreported.
Over half of the total estimate of sexual offenses on children and adolescents
were at the hands of juvenile perpetrators, many of them acquaintance peers.
6% of men and 2% of women indicated some likelihood of having sex with a
child if they were guaranteed they would not be caught or punished.
o Best estimates of global child abuse indicate that about 73 million boys
and 150 million girls ages 17 and under have experienced various forms of
sexual violence.
It is evident that female adolescents with persistent antisocial behavior as
well as adult female offenders have often experienced child sexual abuse.
Research finds that incarcerated homosexual child sex offenders (CSOs) had
on the average, 31 victims, while heterosexual CSOs had an average of 62
victims.
Persons who identify themselves as agender, androgyne, cisgender, or
gender-fluid, for example, are very rarely reflected in contemporary research
studies.
o Thus, making it evident that the data is somewhat outdated.
2
, KRM 310 Chapter 8
Erin Polyblank
Although it is evident that child sex offenders are primarily males, it cannot
be ignored that there are also female offenders.
o Often female offenders are very young (12-16).
SITUATIONAL AND VICTIMIZATION CHARACTERISTICS
Men who sexually abused child victims were more likely to target stepchildren
or distant relatives, whereas women were more likely to target their own
biological children or children for whom they provide care.
According to stereotyped gender roles, a “normal” woman simply would not
wish to hurt a child.
o The stereotype further assumes that child sexual abuse perpetrated by a
woman is either the result of male coercion or severe mental health
problems.
o These types of explanations fit comfortably within early theories of female
offending more generally that de-scribed criminalized women as either
emotionally disturbed, maladapted to their feminine role, physiologically or
psychologically abnormal, or as choosing to become masculine in rebellion
against this ‘natural’ feminine role.
Women appear to be far less discriminating in the gender of their victims;
they commit sex offenses equally against both male and female victims.
o Research found that males offend against females nearly 90% of their
incidents.
o Female sex offenders, half of the victims were female.
Researchers believe that these findings could partly be explained by the
fact that women in some instances are coerced to participate by male
accomplices.
Male accomplices frequently impose their own victim preference
(females) on the women with whom they offend.
About one-quarter of female sex offenders fall into the category of being co-
offenders with males.
3
