Key Identifiers of Pedophilia and Differences in Pedophile Brain Morphology: a Comparative Approach

49 Key Identifiers of Pedophilia and Differences in Pedophile Brain Morphology: A Comparative Approach

By: Kristina Haran

Abstract cortex and the amount of gray and white mater. Lastly this paper outlines hormone n the late 1800s to the early 1900s, treatment and its negative effect on pedophilia was considered a sexual pedophilic compulsions. With further Iperversion for weak minded people. understanding of pedophilia, better With its official addition to the DSM- treatments, even cures can be produced. II (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- II) in 1952, Keywords: Pedophilia, White/Gray pedophilia began to be viewed by experts Matter, Testosterone, Frontal Cortex, as a mental disorder. Within the past Phallometric Testing few decades, a collection of research has been devoted to gaining a better understanding of how pedophilia can be detected and what are its causes. hen compared to schizophrenia, Research concludes that the pedophilic a well-researched disorder that brain is different from the brain of a affectsW 1 in 100 individuals, the prevalence healthy person in a few different aspects. of pedophilia is startling (Schizophrenia). This review first considers different Researchers speculate that approximately methods for determining if a person 1 – 5 out of every 100 men are pedophiles has pedophilic tendencies such as IATs (Zarembo, par 9). Despite the high (Implicit Association Tests), phallocentric prevalence of pedophilia in the population, testing, and fMRIs (functional magnetic experts still know very little about the resonance imaging. Then this paper looks causes and cures for this condition. at identified differences in the pedophilic Pedophilia is defined as being sexually brain such as abnormalities in the frontal aroused and attracted to children and 50

adolescents. One common misconception Emerging research on pedophiles is that those who were sexually abused proves that pedophiles have a different during their own childhood will become brain morphology compared to a healthy pedophiles; in reality, only about 1/3 person specifically in the frontal cortex and of pedophiles reported a history of white and gray matter amounts. While childhood sexual abuse (Zarembo, par the research does have its limitations 16). Another misconception is that by such as small sampling sizes, the research being a pedophile, a person will with is still a valuable tool for understanding certainty molest children, and anyone pedophilia. Society ostracizes pedophiles who molests children is a pedophile. and punishes them for their compulsions, However, pedophilia does not necessarily instead of approaching pedophilia as mean that the person has ever or has the a disorder in need of sound and viable intention of physical interactions with a treatments. child. Further, some people claim that pedophiles are merely attention addicts What is the history of who choose children primarily because Pedophilia? those relationships are forbidden or taboo (Zarembo). The concept of pedophilia is not a Still, some experts such as psychiatrist recent phenomenon; in fact behaviors of Dr. Fred Berlin, agree that pedophiles pedophilic nature have been identified in experience the same level of desire for ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. romantic and sexual relationships as a The term pedophilia erotica was first healthy person does with adults. These used by Viennese psychiatrist Richard experts claim that pedophilia is a sexual von Krafft-Ebing in 1886, where it was orientation, rather than a desire to be described as a “psycho-sexual perversion” socially deviant (Zarembo, par 12). Many (Ebing, 1892). Sigmund Freud (1905) pedophiles agree that their urges are morally briefly wrote about pedophilia in his book wrong and wish that they could better Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality. control or eradicate their compulsions. In it, Freud claimed that pedophiles Berlin claims that pedophiles are often are weak people who cannot control “good people who are struggling… their sexual urges enough to wait until tortured souls fighting like heck not to another adult was available to occupy do this. We do virtually nothing in terms their attention and instead make “use of reaching out to these folks. We drive of such substitutes” (pg 18-20). In 1908, it underground”(Zarembo, par 10-12). Auguste Forel, a Swiss psychiatrist and Better understanding the causes of this neuroanatomist recognized a distinction condition will allow us to better treat, and of people with organic brain conditions perhaps even prevent pedophilia, rather who had compulsions towards children. than punishing pedophiles after they act Forel believed that these sexual urges on their compulsions. were deeply rooted in the person’s psyche 51

and therefore unchangeable. In 1952, the term pedophilia was formally added to How can the IAT be used to detect the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of pedophilia? Mental Disorders (DSM)-II as a type of There are different ways that sexual deviation and was later given a full researchers can test a person for pedophilia; description in the DSM-III released in some being more time and expense costing 1980. than others. As technologies and our Since its induction into the DSM, understanding of the condition improve, pedophilia has been the subject of countless experts can begin to identify the most research studies aimed at identifying the useful and cost effective types of tests. causes and effective treatments for the Recently, there are three types of tests disorder. Recent research suggests that used by researchers and law enforcement pedophilia is a biological condition rooting alike that can be used to identify someone in neurological functioning (Cantor, 2008; as a pedophile. First is the IAT, or Implicit Fromberger, 2013; Schiffer &Peschel, Association Test, which is to date the 2007; Schiffer & Paul, 2008; Schiffer most accurate examination to identify & Vonlaufen, 2011; Walter, 2006). For pedophilia. When taking the IAT, a person instance, roughly 30% of all pedophiles is given various words and must place the are left-handed or ambidextrous, three words into different categories. The various times the prevalence in the general categories include sexual words, non- population. Experts argue that since hand sexual words, adult words, child words, and dominance is developed through various female words. The categories are paired gene combinations, the high prevalence together, for example, sexual words could of left-handedness is a strong indicator be paired with either adult words or child that some sort of dysfunction occurred words in order to create larger categories. while the person was in the womb. In a Experts then measure the time it takes different study, researchers discovered that for the person being tested to categorize on average, pedophiles are almost an inch the words into their distinct groupings. shorter and 10 IQ points lower than the People who are pedophiles responded general population (Zarembo,18-20). This quicker when sexual words and child could indicate that pedophiles experienced words were paired together than when developmental issues while in the womb sexual words and adult words are paired. or during infancy. This research has the Healthy people responded faster to sexual potential to change the way society views words and adult word pairings. The IAT people with pedophilia from being sexual is far from perfect, and even though it can deviants to having a diagnosable mental identify pedophiles with a 72% success disorder. rate, it will incorrectly label healthy people as pedophiles 42% of the time (Gray, How can pedophilia be 2005). Researchers speculate that the tested for? some of the incorrect identification can be 52

attributed to the fact that the test does not data is unavailable. The data could be account for any traumas that the person inaccessible due to a variety of reasons faced during childhood, such as sexual including time, cost, and responses being abuse; which could create a connection insignificant. In many studies, a person between sexual words and child words. who is undergoing Phallometric testing The incorrect labels could potentially will also be given a brain scan during the be caused by men who were currently procedure in order to see what areas of the attempting to conceive children, which brain become active as the penis becomes would explain, even subconsciously, the aroused (Cantor, 2008). tie between sexual words and child words. (Gray, 2005). As research continues, the How can fMRI tests be used to detect IAT can evolve to encompass and account pedophilia? for external factors which will make the Brain scans and functional magnetic test more reliable. resonance imaging (fMRIs ) are useful tools for understanding what makes the How can Phallometric testing be used to brain of a pedophile different than the detect pedophilia? brain of healthy person. fMRI tests are Written and word association tests are usually conducted while the subject is not the only way that pedophilia can be exposed to a variety of visual or auditory detected and studied. Phallometric testing stimuli, similar to a Phallometric test involves exposing subjects to visual and (Poepll, 2011; Schiffer, Paul, 2008; or auditory stimuli while measuring the Walter, 2007). The brain scans are then changes in their amount of penile blood reviewed in attempt to find similarities (Cantor, 2008). A penile plethysmograph in the functioning of a pedophile’s brain is used to record the circumference versus a healthy person. Using fMRIs change of the penis in response to how to better understand brain morphology sexually aroused the stimuli makes the in pedophilia is still a relativity new subject (Phallometric Testing). The practice; however, the results have been visual stimulus consists of adult women fruitful. fMRIs are providing evidence or children in neutral or provocative that pedophiles may in fact have a positions, while the auditory stimulus neurological disorder rather than weak usually consists of a person narrating tendencies to make “use of substitutes,” various sexual acts on adult women or as Freud put it. Through countless hours children. By receiving a high score on the of research, experts are able to recognize Phallometric tests, a person is much more common key distinctions in a pedophile’s likely to be a pedophile than someone brain such as amount of gray and white who scored low. Phallometric testing is an matter, the way the frontal cortex reacts extremely effective predictor of whether to various stimulus situations, and the role a person has pedophilic tendencies; of testosterone levels. unfortunately in many cases Phallometric 53

What does eye tracking tell us about molestation do not necessarily co-occur. pedophiles? The term pedophile holds a completely Pedophilia can be detected by obtaining different meaning than the term child and analyzing the eye movements of a molester; however the two are often person when exposed to various visual wrongfully substituted. stimuli. The tests are conducted by Pedophiles feel a romantic and sexual showing an image of a child and an image attraction toward children, but this is not of an adult woman. Researchers measure a guarantee that a pedophile will attack what parts of the body the test takers are a child even if they are alone together focusing on the most and for how long. in the same room. Pedophiles are solely Surprisingly, both pedophiles and healthy attracted to children, not adults. Child people spend more overall time looking at molesters on the other hand, do not the image of the adult than they do at the necessarily feel any more attracted to image of the child. However, pedophiles children than they would be to adults. and healthy people do not look at the For many child molesters, their actions same areas on the body for the same are fueled by their want to overpower amount of time. Pedophiles fixated mostly someone, and assert dominance. Children on the faces and pubic regions of children are easy targets for child molesters because while healthy people focused primarily on they are significantly weaker psychically, the face and the breasts of the woman. and usually have a lack of resources and Eye tracking tests have demonstrated knowledge of how to get help if abuse is that pedophiles find the faces and the happening. Often, child molesters have pubic regions of children to be the most poor social skills which cause them to get attractive part of the child. The difference low levels of sexual satisfaction from adult between the focus on pubic regions for women, so they then turn to girls that pedophiles and breasts for healthy people show signs of puberty but that are still can be caused by a dysfunction in the below the age of consent (Seto, 2006). brain (Fromberger, 2013). However, In reality, the owning of child more research will be needed in order pornography is a greater predictor of to determine which area of the brain is pedophilia than any prior physical sexual producing the difference. contact with a child. A person who owns child pornography but who has never What is the difference between pedophiles molested a child is three times more likely and child molesters? to be pedophile than someone who has Some may argue that researchers should molested children and does not own child not be spending resources furthering pornography (Seto, 2006). Researchers knowledge about new and existing tests conclude that a person who has sexual because the best way to know if someone relations with a child could be due to is a pedophile is if they have molested the person craving sexual contact with a child. However, pedophilia and child no means of subduing their desires with 54

anyone except for children, however with White matter is composed of axons that the vast supply of free and easy to find connect various parts of the gray matter adult featured pornography, owners of which allows for quicker synapses. Recent child pornography must go out of their studies have shown that pedophiles often way to find it (Seto, 2006). Freud’s original have less gray and white matter than the theory of pedophiles looking for “use of average person (Schiffer, Peschel, 2007). such substitutes” to fulfill their sexual In Cantor’s 2008 study, 65 participants urges can be more accurately applied to with diagnosed pedophilia and 62 with no child molesters who are not pedophiles. previous history of pedophilia were given It would definitely be incorrect to say that Phallometric and fMRI tests. Researchers there are no pedophiles that are also child found that the pedophiles had significantly molesters, as sometimes the two terms do less white matter than the healthy people. overlap. However, it is completely unjust The white matter that the pedophiles did to always put them into the same category have were only around two main fiber without any evidence. bundles, the superior fronto-occipital There are multiple means of measure fasciculus and the right arcuate fasciculus. to determine if someone has pedophilic Both of these main fiber bundles are tendencies, but there are other significant responsible for recognizing sexual stimuli. differences in pedophiles that further Researchers guess that the lack of white separate them from the general population. matter relates to developmental problems The brain morphology of a pedophile is far during childhood as low levels of white different that of a healthy person. Notable matter can also correlate with shorter differences have been observed in the heights, and lesser memory and IQ. amount of white and grey matter volumes Currently researchers are nonetheless and activations in the prefrontal cortexes. unable to determine if low white matter These sizable abnormalities in the brain volume directly causes pedophilia, or functioning, suggest that pedophilia is if common pedophilic activities like actually a mental illness or disease. alcoholism cause the low volume. It is also possible that some underlying variable How does the pedophile brain could cause both the pedophilia and the morphology differ from a low white matter volume (Cantor, 2008). healthy brain? How does the prefrontal cortex differ in a How does gray and white matter differ in a pedophilic brain? pedophilic brain? Recent studies conclude that there Two types of tissue- gray matter and are differences in the frontal cortex of white matter- surround the brain’s exterior. pedophile’s brain compared to a healthy The synapses in the brain are located person (Walter, 2006). There have been in gray matter because it contains the differences found throughout the frontal dendrites, cell bodies, and axon terminals. cortex, but arguably some of the strongest 55

differences have been found in the and dopamine. Recent research has proven prefrontal cortex. Researchers have found that testosterone levels play a large role that pedophiles display a lower amount in controlling the number and severity of of activation in their prefrontal cortex sexual urges. Experts state that disturbed compared to healthy people (Walter, levels of prolactin, dopamine, and 2006). The orbitofrontal cortex is an area serotonin in a person could correlate with of the prefrontal cortex that helps regulate pedophilia. Further research is required social and emotional behavior especially in order to determine if and how these in regards to reward detection and hormones can induce pedophilia ( Jordan, expectation. In heathy adults, responses to 2011). visual sexual stimulation can be detected There are no clear connections between in the orbitofrontal cortex, however similar testosterone and the development of responses for visual sexual stimulation pedophilia, but testosterone levels can cannot be found in pedophiles (Schiffer & be artificially manipulated to control Paul, 2008). Some researchers speculate, pedophilic tendencies. Experts have that dysfunctions in the orbitofrontal reported that offenders of violent sexual cortex can cause other deviant behaviors crimes or child molestation have much such as impulsive, or addictive actions. It higher testosterone levels than the general is entirely possible that the dysfunctions population ( Jordan, 2011). Currently, that take place in the orbitofrontal cortex a variety of testosterone lowering can be caused by the cortex developing medications are being used to subdue incorrectly because of the lack of white the compulsions caused by pedophilia. matter in the surrounding area (Schiffer & Usually, treatment of testosterone lowering Peschel, 2007). Further research signifies medications is paired with psychotherapy that non-pedophilic child molesters which aims at teaching the pedophile display an even greater dysfunction in better strategies for controlling their sexual the orbitofrontal cortex than pedophilic urges. Depending on the specific person child molesters. This dysfunction in non- and the medications given, 26 - 75.4% of pedophilic child molesters could explain, pedophiles show a decrease in the number obsession with dominance and control of sexual urges they feel towards children over others (Schiffer &Vonlaufen, 2011). (Turner, 2013). Leuprolide acetate is an injectable How do hormones affect a pedophile’s brain testosterone depressant that is commonly morphology? used among pedophiles. While taking The brain is in charge of the leuprolide acetate, testosterone drops to creation and upkeep of hormones which levels similar to those who have been control a wide range of communications castrated. Leuprolide acetate causes between the brain and the body. Sexual pedophiles to score lower on phallometric compulsions are managed by various tests that use images of children as stimuli, hormones such as testosterone, serotonin, but the results of the tests are significant 56

enough to still detect pedophilia. When that skews the results in a direction that on leuprolide acetate pedophiles also does not fit with the general population report less sexual thoughts and less times of pedophiles. Another limitation is masturbating to thoughts of children. that some of the research studies do not Once treatment with leuprolide acetate match the pedophile groups and the ceases, pedophiles return to their previous control groups in terms of socioeconomic amounts of compulsions. Researchers class or education, which could lead to conclude that although leuprolide acetate inconsistencies in the results. Ideally, the decreases masturbation and compulsions, studies would be conducted with a large the medication did not alter the interest sample size with a matched control group, towards children into interest towards but for the time being; researchers must adults (Schober, 2005). make use of what is available. Despite these limitations, our Limitations and Conclusions knowledge about pedophilia is evolving. Research aimed at the most effective Pedophilia is not the result of weak people measures for identifying pedophiles and acting out some sexual perversion in order discovering differences in the pedophile to get attention, but instead the cause of brain morphology have greatly increased multiple brain abnormalities. Researchers society’s understanding about pedophilia. have developed new technologies and Unfortunately, these studies have had methodologies of identifying pedophilia many limitations that prevent an even in a person such as IATs, phallometric better assortment of knowledge on the testing, and fMRIs. While researchers topic. One of the biggest limitations in are still not completely sure what causes pedophile based studies are the sample pedophilia, the have identified differences sizes. Often researchers will use the in the frontal cortex, and in the white bare minimum of participants needed and gray matter volumes. Researchers to validate their study because willing have also uncovered treatments that help pedophile participants are difficult to subdue pedophilic compulsions with find. Many pedophiles are reluctant to testosterone lowering medications like engage in pedophilic research for fear of leuprolide acetate. As research continues, being stigmatized by society, even though it is in the realm of possibility that the studies promise confidentiality. This within the next few decades, experts will fear of stigmatization creates another have developed a solid understanding limitation. Many of the studies rely on the of pedophilia and possibly even a cure. participations of convicted pedophiles and Currently many people hold on to the child molesters that have been promised belief that pedophiles can change if they shorter prison sentences in exchange wanted to. However, pedophilia is not a for their cooperation. Since many of choice, but instead caused by a variety of the participants are convicted criminals brain dysfunctions such as low white and there could be some confounding factor grey matter volumes, and low levels of 57 Forel, A., & Marshall, C. (1908). The Sexual activation in the prefrontal cortex. Because Question: A scientific, psychological, of these identified brain differences, hygienic and sociological study for the pedophilia should be classified as a disease cultured classes ... English adaptation by C.F. so pedophiles can be professionally treated, Marshall ... Illustrated (pp. 254-255). Pp. xv. 536. Rebman Co.: New York. as other disease would be. As pedophilic research becomes better known, more Gray, N. S., Brown, A. S., Macculloch, M. J., people will become comfortable with the Smith, J., & Snowden, R. J. (2005). An Implicit Test of the Associations Between Children idea of helping pedophiles with treatment and Sex in Pedophiles. Journal of Abnormal instead of punishing them for a brain Psychology, 114(2), 304-308. Retrieved dysfunction. October 21, 2014. Jordan, K., Fromberger, P., Stolpmann, G., & Müller, J. (2011). The Role Of Testosterone In Sexuality And Paraphilia-A Neurobiological Approach. Part II: Testosterone And Paraphilia. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 8(11). Retrieved November 3, 2014

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Kristina Haran is currently a senior at UC Merced; she is working towards getting her BA in psychology with a minor in sociology. Kristina currently holds the Treasurer position in Psi Chi at UC Merced. She is also assisting in research with Psi Chi about color perception and attraction. Kristina chose pedophiles as the topic of her paper because “although it is a touchy subject, if no one ever does the work regarding the issue, then we as a society will be missing out on uncovering vital knowledge that can help make the world a better place.