ABSTRACT

One of the most puzzling features of the pedophilias is why children are chosen erotically at all. We know that many pedophilic men desire and sexually interact satisfactorily with adult females. We also know that normal gynephiles (preferring adult females) react erotically to children as young as 6-years-old. What motivates the heterosexual pedophile to act out with female minors when the gynephile can keep his Impulses in check? Why do some pedophiles choose victims that are physically, if not emotionally mature? For example, pubescentfemales are often physically similar to adult females. To risk incarceration for sexually acting out with such minors is incongruous and may involve a powerful urge that encompasses some feature of the child that has been overlooked to date. On the other hand, in such cases, the theory that pedophiles are inadequate gynephiles may be operative. That is, they truly are attracted to adult females and they desire coitus but they are blocked from obtaining that goal so the child serves as a Surrogate. It is believed that the pedophiles' shyness and lack of assertiveness prevent them from interacting sexually with mature women. In the next chapter heterosexual pedophiles' assertiveness and erotic desires for adults and children are studied.