Psychological Theories of Pedophilia and Ephebophilia Essay

The problem of pedophilia and ephebophilia was recently highlighted with the nonparallel scandals involving many catholic priests who allegedly abused children and minors. Although the problem was sensationalized with the recent scandals, it essential be noted that it is not limited to the catholic clergy as Its a problem that strikes anywhere, every walk of life, every race, and every companionable train. (Richmond, 2009) The article Psychological Theories of Pedophilia and Ephebophilia attempts to rationalise the underlying theories that explain the said sexual degenerate ports.It distinguishes the difference between a pedophilia, an swelled who has recurrent, intense sexual urges and sexual fantasies involving a prepubescent child downstairs 13 years old and an ephebophilia, who has recurrent, intense sexual urges and sexual fantasies involving a pubescent child or adolescent between the ages 14 and 17 years old. In both cases, the offending adult is at least 5 years olde r than the victim. A further distinction was make between regressed and fixated pedophiles and ephebophiles. The latter primarily have sexual orientation towards adults and regresses into a sexual urge for children only under extreme duress.The former, on the new(prenominal) hand, are fixated on children and teenagers alone. The article cites earlier studies, such as that from Araji and Finkelhorn which situation the theories of pedophilia agree to four broad categories emotional congruence, sexual arousal, period and inhibition. At the outset, the article clarifies that that there is no clear and definite pattern of their background. Their religious, vocation, socio-economic, education backgrounds are widely diverse, heterogeneous and complex, thus making it rugged to narrow down the specific characteristics of these offenders.Owing to the diversity of backgrounds of pedophiles and ephebophiles, the author investigates the causes of the disorders by analyzing them using two b road categories, (1. ) the psychological theories including psychic, social and environmental factors, and (2. ) the hypothesized biological strata of the disorder. By taking a multi-faceted approach, one is able to compartmentalize the types of offenders according to above theories, thus making analysis of these disorders more organized, get up, and systematic. Psychological Theoriespsychoanalytical theories look at deviant sexual behaviors as stemming from early childhood trauma (ages 2-5 years), causing ones arrested development and explains why the soul eventually becomes the offender and repeats the offense later in adulthood in an attempt to mask the anxiety. Meanwhile, family system theories stresses the role of unresolved intergenerational family dynamics on certain family members which argues that deviant behavior is learned within the family, and eventually, spreads across family lines. behaviorism and social learning theories stress the importance of learning our behav ior. In otherwise words, behavior is learned and acquired through early experiences that either brings guilt or pleasure or both. Biological Theories Biological theories attempt to connect deviant sexual behaviors with brain malady. It attempts to answer 2 basic questions, such as 1. What effect does the brain have on perverse sexual behavior? 2. Can deviant sexual arousal be attributed to brain disease or damage?More specifically, psychologists have found a pixilated link between high testosterone levels among males and sexual aggression. Subsequently, studies suggest that the level of testosterone in fetuses can be affected by the mothers inspiration of specific drugs and stress. Certain studies do seem to suggest a direct correlation between high levels of testosterone and deviant sexual behavior as proven by high levels of testosterone found among pedophiles and in another study, rarefied levels of luteinising hormone.In this respect, an anti-androgenic medication such as D epo Provera lowers the level of testosterone in the human body and has been moderately successful in the handling of sexually deviant men. REFERENCE Richmond, R. The National Institute for the Renewal of the Priesthood. (21 whitethorn 2009) Pedophilia not just a clergy problem, police expert says. Retrieved 17 June 2009 from http// www. jknirp. com/richmond. htm.