We know that paedophilia runs in families. Boys who are molested often molest boys when they grow up. Do they molest because they were molested or because they have a genetic sexual orientation toward children?
I feel that there is a strong genetic predisposition in paedophilia. I believe that paedophilia runs in families and seems to be a variant of OCD, which has strong genetic predispositions. In other words, paedophilia seems to be an illness that is caused by abnormal brain chemistry with strong genetic connections.
What causes paedophilia? No one decides, "I’m going to grow up and be a child paedophile."
All of our children need to live in a safe environment, free of the threat of molestation.
Maybe this is a question that would be better discussed with trained psychology and medical professionals than on an internet forum filled with teenagers?
It sounds like your train of thought is going in a dangerous direction...you propose that paedophilia is genetic, and then end your post with "all of our children need to live in a safe environment." Are you proposing that we should send children and cousins of paedophiles off to an island somewhere, away from the rest of society? Take away their ability to reproduce, lest they pass on this "dangerous" genetic strain?
A variant of OCD? That's er.. a bizarre connection to make. Anyway, it's defined in the DSM IV as a mental illness, so maybe give that a read.
Well that's frankly nonsense.
Homosexuality was also considered a mental illness, and by getting past our 'moral outrage' at homosexuality, and looking at it sensibly, we managed to see that it wasn't a mental illness but just a different sexual orientated.
You ask 'what causes paedophilia'. Well, if you find an answer to the question 'what causes homosexuality', then you'll also have an answer to your original question.
I suppose genetics could be involved. Would you say that homosexuals are genetically gay? Pedophilia is more of a sexual orientation than a disease, so the answers to those questions would be the same.
It is more likely to be because of environmental factors. Boys who were abused grow up to be pedos because thats how they think they should behave. They understand a father to be someone who touches their children.
Same as whatever "causes" heterosexuality, bisexuality or homosexuality, I suppose.
As for the sentencing, I'd give them rehab, providing they'd actually acted upon their urges: most paedophiles are peaceful and normal individuals.
The latter part; this is a good point - paedophiles who don't act on their urges shouldn't be imprisoned. I'm sure there are people out there who thought about killing someone but didn't, there's a problem with them, yes, but you shouldn't be sent to prison for something you haven't done (yet). Since it's a mental deviation then, whatever can be done to fix that should be done.
Maybe this is a question that would be better discussed with trained psychology and medical professionals than on an internet forum filled with teenagers?
It sounds like your train of thought is going in a dangerous direction...you propose that paedophilia is genetic, and then end your post with "all of our children need to live in a safe environment." Are you proposing that we should send children and cousins of paedophiles off to an island somewhere, away from the rest of society? Take away their ability to reproduce, lest they pass on this "dangerous" genetic strain?
I'm having an argument with a friend about the legal status of Paedophilia.
I believe that Paedophilia as a condition is not illegal in the UK. Child abuse, Child Pornography and any other related practice that they may involve themselves in is. But the actual condition isn't?
Am I right in law? (this stems from a forum discussion months ago and is an ongoing argument ever since)
All I know is that the orthodox priests in Russia are allowed to get married etc and maybe for that reason, there are 0 cases of priests and pedophilia (or at least drastically less than catholics etc).
I'm having an argument with a friend about the legal status of Paedophilia.
I believe that Paedophilia as a condition is not illegal in the UK. Child abuse, Child Pornography and any other related practice that they may involve themselves in is. But the actual condition isn't?
Am I right in law? (this stems from a forum discussion months ago and is an ongoing argument ever since)
How could the condition possibly be illegal? You wouldn't know somebody was a paedophile unless they had acted upon it.
Homosexuality was also considered a mental illness, and by getting past our 'moral outrage' at homosexuality, and looking at it sensibly, we managed to see that it wasn't a mental illness but just a different sexual orientated.
You ask 'what causes paedophilia'. Well, if you find an answer to the question 'what causes homosexuality', then you'll also have an answer to your original question.
i dont think you can draw a parallel between homosexuality and paedophilia in that way though...
the only similarity is that the objects of sexual attraction are not chosen
The only reason we exist now is because the humans in the past bred most successfully with partners who were fertile and healthy. This dictates the things and behaviours we see as typically attractive in the opposite sex, but that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone is hard-wired to find these things (like hip-to-waist ratio in women and height in men) attractive. Homosexuals, paedophiles, people attracted to fences and so on would just not be particularly successful, and hence it isn't as common.
The issues arise when people are attracted to those who are not mentally ready and able to give consent, like children. Discussing non-answerable questions like "but what causes it?" only encourages a scapegoating mentality, and at worst could lead to things being carried out (something farfetched, like sterilising or killing a convicted paedophile's children because of 'genes') to find out later down the line that it was wrong scientifically, suddenly unmuting the moral neutrality of tormenting those who do not fit the norm.
Last edited by DisgruntledMoth : 1 Week Ago at 23:26.
i always thought from various documentries ive watched that it is a form of sexual orientation, in the same way as homosexuality except for the fact that it is not acceptable for any sexual relationship to occur between adult and child. Although i think in some ways it maybe a form of peter pan complex in some paedofile who cant handle life and iodolise childhood but have sexual desire which screws up the whole thing and causes them to commit sick acts. The other scenario is being molested as a child which causes you to molest other children as you have had it programmed into you as appropriate behaviour as a child.
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What causes pedophilia?
