Theories of paedophilic offending : a critical evaluation.

• Main Author: Quek, Jane Jing.
• Other Authors: Michael David Gumert
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/48874
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Paedophilic offending is a serious concern in society because of the devastating and long-lasting effects of sexual abuse on young children. Although paedophilic offending has been widely researched across different psychological fields, there has been a lack of studies looking at the unification of different fields of theories to explain paedophilic behaviour. This paper focuses on three areas of theoretical research on paedophilic offending: biological, psychological and developmental fields. It aims to explain paedophilic offending by integrating the three domains to present an integrative view on paedophilic offending. The presence of biological abnormalities predisposes paedophiles to inappropriate appraisals, impulsive behaviour and the lack of recognition of fear. Psychological theories explains how the paedophilic behaviour is acquired and maintained, outlining the psychological processes behind the rationalization and thought distortions that overcome the morality of offending against minors. Dysfunctional family and early life adversities further enhance the risk of being victimized by paedophiles. Advancement into paedophilia is contingent upon the interaction of the three fields; a deficit in all three areas proving to be significant in the development of a paedophile. Additionally, the operation of paedophiles is changing with the prevalent use of Internet, suggesting a future direction in the study of the impact of Internet on paedophilic offending.