Child pornography offenses are a valid diagnostic indicator of pedophilia

Abstract

This study investigated whether being charged with a child pornography offense is a valid diagnostic indicator of pedophilia, as represented by an index of phallometrically assessed sexual arousal to children. The sample of 685 male patients was referred between 1995 and 2004 for a sexological assessment of their sexual interests and behavior. As a group, child pornography offenders showed greater sexual arousal to children than to adults and differed from groups of sex offenders against children, sex offenders against adults, and general sexology patients. The results suggest child pornography offending is a stronger diagnostic indicator of pedophilia than is sexually offending against child victims. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Lay Perceptions of Child Pornography Offenders

“…However, in both studies, offence severity scores were significantly positively correlated with the increased belief that the offender was pedophilic. This finding is also of interest as those participants who associated pedophilia with child pornography hold beliefs that are consistent with recent research: Seto and et al (2006) found that possession of child pornography is a significant indicator of pedophilic sexual interest, even more so than contact sexual offending against a child.…”

“…Seto, Cantor, and Blanchard (2006) found that child pornography offending is a better diagnostic indicator of pedophilia than is sexually offending against child victims because, when assessed in the laboratory, the majority of child pornography offenders showed greater sexual arousal in response to images of children than to images of adults. Consistent with this finding, Buschman's (2007) interview with a clinical sample of child pornography offenders revealed that most of the men admitted to being sexually aroused by children, and all of the men admitted that they masturbated to child pornography.…”

A Descriptive Study of Sexual Homicide in Canada

“…The current study did, however, examine whether the offender was known to maintain a sexual collection (e.g., pornography, sexual paraphernalia). The act of collecting erotica or other sexual materials may be related to paraphilic behavior (Seto, Cantor, & Blanchard, 2006). Depending on the nature of the materials, they may in fact serve to stimulate or encourage specific paraphilia.…”

Characteristics of Internet Child Pornography Offenders: A Comparison with Child Molesters

“…Riegel stated that there remains little support for the perception that viewing child pornography is a substantive causative factor in sexual contact. Further, Seto et al (2006) assessed the sexual interests and behavior of 685 male patients. Results revealed that child pornography offenders showed greater sexual arousal to children than to adults and differed from groups of sex offenders against children.…”