What is Pedophilia?
The feeling of being sexually attracted towards children is called “pedophilia”. Research estimates that up to one per cent of the adult male population have sexual fantasies with children and might have pedophilia (females with pedophilia exist but in fewer numbers). For India, that would mean that 7 million people feel sexually attracted to children.
There are also people who feel sexually attracted towards early adolescents who have just entered puberty. This attraction is called “hebephilia”. Currently, the cause(s) for these kinds of attraction is unclear but what we do know is that for many people it is difficult to find a safe way to deal with their sexual preference.
People with a sexual preference for children and/or early adolescents usually realize their attraction because of their sexual fantasies about children and/or early adolescents. When one realizes their fantasies for the very first time, feelings of insecurity, stress, anxiety and shame are common. Some may fear that they might harm children and/or early adolescents because of their attraction. Others fear that they might act out on their preference by watching sexualized images of children (known as "child pornography") and might end up doing so sooner or later.
However, many individuals with pedophilia or hebephilia are aware that they cannot engage in any sexual activity with children and/or early adolescents and can thus benefit from active support to control their impulses.
The following signs can indicate a sexual preference for children and/or early adolescents:
- sexually arousing fantasies involving children and/or early adolescents
- sexual arousal while observing children and/or early adolescents, or during contact with them
- watching sexualized images of children and/or early adolescents
We do not support child sexual abuse in any form
