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Lehmann RJB, Jahnke S, Bartels R, Butzek J, Molitor A, Schmidt AF. Public Stigmatizing Reactions Toward Nonoffending Pedophilic Individuals Seeking to Relieve Sexual Arousal. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024; 61:1119-1129. [PMID: 37163734 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2023.2198512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
People with pedophilia (PWP) can deal with their sexual desires by relieving sexual arousal without sexually exploiting children. Study 1 investigated whether public reactions toward nonoffending pedophilic men are affected by their strategies to relieve sexual arousal (nonsexual pictures vs. child sex dolls) or to reduce their sex drive via testosterone lowering medication in legally nonproblematic ways. A sample of German-speaking participants (N = 143) read three vignettes describing PWP using either of these strategies. Participants' (59.4% females) mean age was 39.7 (SD = 15.6). Although no significant difference was detected between the nonsexual pictures and sex dolls conditions on cognitive (except for dangerousness), affective, and behavioral levels, both consistently elicited more stigmatizing reactions than the testosterone-lowering medication condition. To investigate if this effect was driven by disapproving any relief of sexual arousal or the use of actual child stimuli in particular, Study 2 (N = 151) added two conditions with PWP using adult child-like stimuli to relieve sexual arousal: adult-as-schoolgirl porn and adult partner with childlike appearance. Here, Participants' (57.6% females) mean age was 28.0 (SD = 13.3). Results indicate that stigmatization was driven by disapproving the use of child stimuli rather than the relief of sexual arousal in general. Individuals with a sexual interest in children face strong stigmatizing reactions, which are only alleviated when they are described as undergoing treatment lowering sex drive or - to a lesser extent - being able to mate with an adult partner or using porn with adult actors posing as schoolgirls.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Jahnke
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen
| | | | | | | | - Alexander F Schmidt
- Institute of Psychology, Social & Legal Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz
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Christophersen L, Brotto G. The Effectiveness of Educational Interventions for Mental Health Professionals in Reducing Stigmatization Toward People with Pedophilia: A Meta-Analysis. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2024:15248380241262286. [PMID: 39092869 DOI: 10.1177/15248380241262286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Mental Health Professionals (MHP) often harbor strong negative attitudes toward people with a sexual attraction to children, hindering the provision of essential treatment. This reluctance stems from pervasive stigmatization, contributing to mental health issues among people with pedophilia and exacerbating risk factors associated with child sexual abuse. Limited research and small sample sizes in prior studies underscore the need to conduct a meta-analysis, examining the effectiveness of educational interventions as a tool for reducing stigmatization toward people with pedophilia in MHP. Eight studies meeting specific inclusion criteria were identified through a literature search. These criteria included (a) peer-reviewed empirical, (b) quantitative data, (c) a focus on attitudes toward people with pedophilia, (d) a sample of MHP that might come in contact with people with pedophilia (or the general public), (e) the intervention is educational, (f) the educational intervention is based on people with pedophilia, (g) pre- and post-test data, and (h) be written in English. Comparable variables within these studies encompassed dangerousness, social distance, intentionality, deviance, punitiveness, anger, sympathy, and motivation to treat. The intervention significantly improved perceptions of dangerousness (d = 0.65), social distance (d = 0.33), intentionality (d = 0.38), and punitiveness (d = 0.77). However, it showed non-significant effects on deviance (d = 0.22), anger (d = -0.22), sympathy (d = -0.12), and motivation to treat (d = -0.04). These findings indicate that educational interventions can reduce MHP stigmatization toward people with pedophilia, especially with contact-based and sufficiently prolonged interventions.
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Nematy A, Flynn S, McCarthy-Jones S. Perspectives, Treatment Goals, and Approaches of Prevention-Specialist Mental Health Professionals in Working With Clients Attracted to Children. SEXUAL ABUSE : A JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2024:10790632241268465. [PMID: 39049563 DOI: 10.1177/10790632241268465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
The provision of effective mental health services to individuals attracted to children is rapidly expanding. However, these services have not yet been integrated into general mental healthcare systems and are mainly offered by organizations that predominantly provide services to child sexual abuse perpetrators. Little is known about the perspective, treatment goals, and approaches employed by prevention-specialist mental health professionals when working with clients attracted to children. To address this gap, we used purposive sampling to recruit 10 practitioners who had experience of working in prevention settings with clients attracted to children. After conducting semi-structured interviews and analyzing data through interpretative phenomenological analysis, we identified three main themes and four subthemes within the data. While most participants believed that attraction to minors is unmodifiable or doubted the possibility of modifiability, this belief did not necessarily manifest in their practice. Participants stressed the importance of finding safe alternatives for clients and highlighted the significance of accessing evidence-based information on alternative sexual outlets, such as sex dolls. One overarching theme that emerged across all themes and within participants' accounts was the concern of escalation, indicating a fear that pedophilic fantasies or alternative sexual outlets such as sex dolls could potentially lead to sexual offenses. The findings shed light on the approach of prevention-specialist mental health professionals in working with clients attracted to children and may be used to inform future intervention plans to facilitate service provision to this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Nematy
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Susan Flynn
- School of Social Work, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Nurmi J, Paju A, Brumley BB, Insoll T, Ovaska AK, Soloveva V, Vaaranen-Valkonen N, Aaltonen M, Arroyo D. Investigating child sexual abuse material availability, searches, and users on the anonymous Tor network for a public health intervention strategy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7849. [PMID: 38570603 PMCID: PMC10991312 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58346-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tor is widely used for staying anonymous online and accessing onion websites; unfortunately, Tor is popular for distributing and viewing illicit child sexual abuse material (CSAM). From 2018 to 2023, we analyse 176,683 onion domains and find that one-fifth share CSAM. We find that CSAM is easily available using 21 out of the 26 most-used Tor search engines. We analyse 110,133,715 search sessions from the Ahmia.fi search engine and discover that 11.1% seek CSAM. When searching CSAM by age, 40.5% search for 11-year-olds and younger; 11.0% for 12-year-olds; 8.2% for 13-year-olds; 11.6% for 14-year-olds; 10.9% for 15-year-olds; and 12.7% for 16-year-olds. We demonstrate accurate filtering for search engines, introduce intervention, show a questionnaire for CSAM users, and analyse 11,470 responses. 65.3% of CSAM users first saw the material when they were children themselves, and half of the respondents first saw the material accidentally, demonstrating the availability of CSAM. 48.1% want to stop using CSAM. Some seek help through Tor, and self-help websites are popular. Our survey finds commonalities between CSAM use and addiction. Help-seeking correlates with increasing viewing duration and frequency, depression, anxiety, self-harming thoughts, guilt, and shame. Yet, 73.9% of help seekers have not been able to receive it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Nurmi
- Tampere University, FI-33720, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Arttu Paju
- Tampere University, FI-33720, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Tegan Insoll
- Suojellaan Lapsia, Protect Children ry., FI-00580, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna K Ovaska
- Suojellaan Lapsia, Protect Children ry., FI-00580, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Valeriia Soloveva
- Suojellaan Lapsia, Protect Children ry., FI-00580, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Mikko Aaltonen
- University of Eastern Finland, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - David Arroyo
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28014, Madrid, Spain
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Jahnke S, Blagden N, Mcphail IV, Antfolk J. Secret-keeping in therapy by clients who are sexually attracted to children. Psychother Res 2023:1-16. [PMID: 37848189 DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2023.2265047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study investigated the reasons why pedohebephilic clients disclose their sexual attraction to children in therapy and the experiences associated with this decision among English-speaking samples. Method: The pre-registered online survey combined (1) quantitative correlational data of self-reported improvement, alliance, therapist reaction to disclosure, and the belief that mandatory reporting laws were in place, and (2) qualitative data about reasons for disclosure or no disclosure as well as perceived consequences. The sample consisted of pedohebephilic people who have been clients in therapy and have disclosed (n = 96) or not disclosed (n = 40). Results: While the disclosure and no disclosure groups did not differ in improvement or beliefs about mandatory reporting, those who had disclosed reported a stronger alliance. Clients who did not perceive the therapist's reaction as supportive reported less improvement than the no disclosure group. Thematic analysis of qualitative data identified three themes concerning motives for disclosing or not disclosing and a fourth regarding differential impacts of disclosure. Discussion: This study indicates that disclosing pedohebephilia does not in and of itself lead to improvement but is contingent on a therapist's reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Jahnke
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Nicholas Blagden
- School for Law and Social Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Ian V Mcphail
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jan Antfolk
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
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Iffland JA, Schmidt AF. "Stigmatization and perceived dangerousness for intrafamilial child sexual abuse of fathers with a history of sexual offenses and paraphilic interests: Results from a survey of legal psychological experts". CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023; 144:106348. [PMID: 37478734 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrafamilial child sexual abuse (ICSA) is a puzzling phenomenon that is not well understood by researches. Nevertheless, psychologists are demanded to assess the risk for child maltreatment by family courts regarding male caregivers with a history of sex offenses and/or paraphilic interests. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess legal psychological experts' perspective on risk assessment in family court proceedings regarding ICSA, their opinions regarding the necessity of contact limitations between fathers/stepfathers who might impose a risk for ICSA, and experts' stigmatization of minor-attracted persons. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING 153 psychological experts working in family court proceedings were assessed via an online survey. METHOD Jahnke's Stigma Inventory was used as well as a questionnaire tapping into different contact limitations, the perception of child maltreatment risk, and parental capacity. Network analysis was conducted to multivariately investigate item intercorrelations. RESULTS Fathers/stepfathers with a diagnosed pedophilic disorder are being regarded as most dangerous, 71 % of the experts agreed with the necessity of a complete contact ban. Reduced parental capacity and increased risk for child maltreatment was observed with regard to sexual offending history and paraphilias. CONCLUSIONS Psychological experts in family court proceedings hardly discriminate between sexual offending and paraphilic interests which might be associated with stigmatizing attitudes and lack of experience. An increasing cooperation between family psychologists and experts of forensic risk assessment might reduce the risk of stigmatization and may contribute to more adequate risk assessments for ICSA thus aiding to prevent children from sexual victimization or misinformed risk management interventions.
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Lievesley R, Harper CA, Woodward E, Tenbergen G. Fantasy Sexual Material Use by People with Attractions to Children. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2023; 25:395-404. [PMID: 37523114 PMCID: PMC10506952 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-023-01435-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW With the Internet allowing consumers easy access to fantasy and fictional sexual materials (FSM), it is becoming increasingly important to understand the context of their use among specific populations. Of particular, social, clinical, and legal interest is FSM use by people who are attracted to children and whether this may have a risk-enhancing or protective impact on their likelihood of committing a contact or non-contact sexual offence. RECENT FINDINGS There is a lack of data currently available in relation to the use of FSM by those with sexual attractions to children. Evidence from allied areas appears to show no meaningful associations between FSM use and sexual aggression. We propose a novel research program and some initial research questions that provide a theoretical framework for more evidence-based inquiry on FSM use by people who experience attractions to children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Lievesley
- NTU Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Craig A Harper
- NTU Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
| | - Ellie Woodward
- NTU Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Gilian Tenbergen
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Oswego, Oswego, NY, 13126, USA
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