Pedophilia and Psychological Profiling

 

What is a child molester or pedophile?

 

v     “A slightly older individual who engages in any type of sexual activity with individuals legally defined as children.”

v     “A lover of children.”

v     “Person who has developed a sexual interest in children that ranges from fondling to mutilation and murder.”

 

o       Specificity is needed for a more accurate ability to aid in investigation.

 

Two main types of pedophiles

 

1.      Situational child molesters

a.       Don’t have a true sexual interest in children

b.      Will experiment with children when stress is introduced into life

                                                                          i.      Seen as victim of circumstance

c.       Has the fewest number of victims

d.      Will not limit victims to just children but will also prey upon the elderly, sick, or mentally impaired

e.       Several subtypes (see Table 1)

 

Table 1. Situational Child Molesters

Element

Regressed

Morally Indiscriminate

Sexually Indiscriminate

Inadequate

Basic Traits

Poor coping skills

User of people

Sexual experimentation

Social misfit

Motivation

Substitution

Why not?

Boredom

Insecurity and curiosity

Victim criteria

Availability

Vulnerability, opportunity

New and different

Non-threatening

MO

Coercion

Lure, force, or manipulation

Involve in existing activity

Exploitation of size advantage

Porn collection

Possible

S&M, detective magazines

Highly likely

likely

Adapted from Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis (p. 8), National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Washington, DC, 1985.

 

                                                                          i.      Regressed child molester

1.      This pedophile has a situational occurrence that impels him to turn to children. This turn is only temporary and will revert back.

2.      Traditionally involved with adults. For example, being married and having a family.

3.      When life stress gets to a regressed offender the children become an outlet. They usually feel more comfortable with children.

4.      Also, they are geographically stable, employed, and may have some substance abuse, and also may have low-self-esteem.

                                                                        ii.      Morally indiscriminate molester

1.      An abuser of all available persons. Children are simply included, but not the overall goal.

2.      Experiments’ sexually, “try-sexual,” that is willing to try or do anything. Such as bondage, tyndarianism (mate-swapping), and triolism (3-partner relationships).

3.      Can involve biological children or children by marriage in the sexual experiments because of their convenience.

                                                                      iii.      Naïve or inadequate molester

1.      Usually suffer from mental disorder that renders them unable to make the distinction between right and wrong. Examples: retardation or senility.

2.      Known throughout the neighborhood for being bizarre or strange.

3.      Loners, not by choice, but because they are not capable of establishing personal relationships with others.

4.      Doesn’t harm children, experiments with holding, fondling, kissing, licking, but not sexual intercourse, oral or anal sex.

5.      Views children as non-threatening and easier to deal with than adults, so they prefer children.

6.      Has a collection of pornography; however, it is not child porn.

 

2.      Preferential child molesters

a.       Prefer children as the providers of personal and sexual gratification

b.      Seek out children for their needs and wants

c.       Subtypes:

                                                                          i.      Mysoped child molester and killer

1.      Sadist; has made the connection between sexual gratification and personal violence

2.      Usually male

3.      Typically the victim is a stranger to the aggressor

4.      May stalk the child rather than use a form of seduction; may take victim by force using his size as an advantage

5.      Abducts children from playgrounds, schools, shopping centers, and other places children gather

6.      Has no “love” for children; only interested in causing harm and eventual death to a vulnerable victim

7.      Crime is premeditated and ritualized

8.      Example would be Albert Fish

                                                                        ii.      Fixated child molester

1.      Has little or no activity with people his own age, and is usually single and considered immature; uncomfortable around adults

2.      Offender is childlike himself in his lifestyle and behaviors

3.      Likes children for their less demanding ways, easily dominated, and less critical mentalities

4.      “Loves” children and doesn’t want to harm them; courts them and buys gifts as a seduction ploy and slowly becomes intimate with the child

5.      Oral-genital sex is the norm and actual intercourse develops only after a very long period of time has passed

 

Profiling Child Molester Types (see Table 2)

 

Table 2. Typology of Child Molesters

Element

Immature Offender

Regressed Offender

Sadistic Offender

Fixated Offender

Harmful to the Child

No

No

Yes

No

Aggressive personality

No

No

Yes

No

Antisocial personality

No

No

Yes

No

Child sexual preference

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Knows the child

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Intercourse occurs

No

Yes

Yes

No

 

A.    Three important factors to look at when profiling molesters:

1. Victimization ritual

2. Method of selection

3. Abducting process

 

Other helpful profiling leads:

 

v     Geographical stability of the molester

v     Police records

v     Fact that abused children will sometimes abuse as well

v     Never assume sex of offender based on sex of victim

 

Reference

 

Holmes, R. M., & Holmes, S. T. (2002). Pedophilia and psychological profiling. In R. M. Holmes, & S. T. Holmes, Profiling violent crimes: An investigative tool (3rd ed.) (pp. 158–171). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

 

Addendum: Nonfamily Child Abductors Who Murder Their Victims

 

 

Previous Research

 

Method

 

Results

 

Discussion

 

Reference

 

Beyer, K. R., & Beasley, J. O. (2003). Nonfamily child abductors who murder their victims: Offender demographics from interviews with incarcerated offenders. In J. H. Campbell & D. DeNevi (Eds.), Profilers: Leading investigators take you inside the criminal mind. (pp. 313–333) Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

 

On the Web: http://www.csbsju.edu/uspp/CrimPsych/CPSG-6.htm

 

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