An exploratory analysis of the offending process of extrafamilial sexual aggressors against adolescents

Hebephilia, the erotic preference for pubescent children ¹ (Blanchard et al., 2009), has been the focus of many discussions since its potential inclusion in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition). However, many researchers and practitioners in the field argue against the very existence of hebephilia as a mental disorder, since there is only sparse and contradictory evidence regarding this issue (DeClue, 2009; Frances & First, 2011; Franklin, 2010; Green, 2010; Janssen, 2009; Kramer, 2011; Moser, 2009; Prentky & Barbaree, 2011; Tromovitch, 2009; Zander, 2009).