Pedophilia is a criminal behavior that has serious repercussions for both the victims and society in general. Pedophiles are individuals who commit sexual abuse against boys and girls, which has a profound impact on the mental and emotional health of minors. To better understand this problem, it is important to analyze the psychological profile of pedophiles, identifying the common traits and attitudes that characterize this type of aggressors.
1 . Sexual Deviation
One of the predominant features in the psychological profile of pedophiles is the presence of sexual deviations. These individuals experience sexual attraction towards boys and girls, which is far from sexual preferences considered socially acceptable. Sexual deviation is a determining factor in the behavior of pedophiles and contributes to their criminal actions.
1.1. Pedophilia
Pedophilia is one of the most common sexual deviations among pedophiles. It is characterized by persistent sexual attraction to prepubescent children, which leads offenders to seek sexual contact with minors. Pedophilia is a serious psychological disorder that affects the behavior of pedophiles and justifies their abusive actions.
2. Manipulation and Deception
Pedophiles often resort to manipulation and deception to get closer to their victims and gain their trust. They use psychological techniques to seduce boys and girls, creating an environment conducive to sexual abuse. The ability to manipulate their victims is a distinctive feature in the behavior of pedophiles.
2.1. Grooming
Grooming is a strategy used by pedophiles to prepare their victims before committing sexual abuse. It consists of establishing a relationship of trust and closeness with the minor, earning their affection and creating an emotional connection that facilitates control over the victim. Grooming is a manipulative tactic that allows pedophiles to perpetrate their attacks more effectively.
3. Low Self-Esteem
Despite their abusive behavior, many pedophiles have self-esteem problems and a negative self-image. This low self-esteem can manifest itself in the difficulty of establishing healthy relationships with adults and in the need to seek sexual gratification through violating the limits of minors. The lack of personal self-esteem is a factor that influences the behavior of pedophiles.
3.1. Insecurity
Insecurity is a common characteristic in pedophiles, who look for a source of power and control in boys and girls that allows them to feel superior and dominant. The vulnerability of minors gives them a sense of security and authority that they lack in their relationships with adults. Emotional insecurity is a motivating factor in the abusive behavior of pedophiles.
4. Lack of Empathy
Pedophiles usually show a notable lack of empathy towards their victims, not being able to understand the suffering and damage they cause with their actions. This lack of empathy allows them to justify their abuse and minimize the consequences for minors. The inability to put oneself in the victim's place is a fundamental aspect in the psychological profile of pedophiles.
4.1. Lack of Remorse
Lack of remorse is a common attitude in pedophiles, who do not experience feelings of guilt or regret for their actions. They often justify their sexual abuse as a legitimate expression of their desires and needs, downplaying the victims' suffering. The absence of remorse is an indication of the emotional coldness that characterizes pedophiles.
5. History of Sexual Abuse
It has been observed that many pedophiles have a history of sexual abuse in their own personal history. They have been victims of sexual assault in childhood or adolescence, which has negatively impacted their emotional and sexual development. The experience of having been abused can influence the behavior of pedophiles, reproducing patterns of violence in subsequent generations.
5.1. Cycle of Abuse
The cycle of abuse is a phenomenon in which people who have been victims of sexual abuse tend to repeat these behaviors with other individuals, reproducing violence and emotional damage. Pedophiles who have lived traumatic experiences of abuse can perpetuate this cycle by sexually assaulting boys and girls, reproducing the harm they themselves have suffered in the past.
6. Control and Dominance
Pedophiles seek to exercise a high degree of control and dominance over their victims, using violence, coercion and manipulation to subject minors to their sexual desires. The feeling of power they experience by having a vulnerable person under their control provides them with gratification and reinforces their self-image of superiority.
6.1. Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a common personality trait in pedophiles, who seek to impose their will on their victims and exercise absolute control in the abusive relationship. The need for dominance and submission is a prominent characteristic in the behavior of pedophiles, who find in the submission of minors a source of satisfaction and power.
7. Denial of the Seriousness of the Crime
Pedophiles tend to minimize the seriousness of their actions and deny the devastating impact they have on the lives of their victims. They justify their sexual abuse as irrelevant or harmless acts, without considering the physical, emotional and psychological consequences that they generate in the attacked boys and girls. Denial of reality is a defense strategy used by pedophiles to evade their responsibility.
7.1. Rationalization
Rationalization is a psychological mechanism used by pedophiles to justify their abusive behavior and avoid assuming guilt for their actions. Through distorted arguments and self-deception, they try to give a logical explanation for their sexual abuse, minimizing the seriousness of their behavior and exempting themselves from any moral responsibility. Rationalization is a denial strategy used by pedophiles to keep their self-image intact.
8. Dynamics of Power and Submission
In the abusive relationship between pedophiles and minors, a dynamic of power and submission is established in which the aggressor exercises absolute control over the victim. The pedophile seeks to subject the boy or girl to his or her sexual desires and fantasies, nullifying their autonomy and freedom. This unbalanced power dynamic is a distinctive characteristic in cases of child sexual abuse perpetrated by pedophiles.
8.1. Vulnerability of the Victim
The vulnerability of the victim is a determining factor in the dynamics of power and submission between the pedophile and the minor. The child's lack of resources and defenses makes him or her an easy target for the aggressor, who takes advantage of this weakness to exercise control and manipulation. The vulnerability of the victim is exploited by the pedophile in his process of sexual abuse.
In conclusion, the psychological profile of the pedophile is characterized by the presence of sexual deviations, manipulation, low self-esteem, lack of empathy, history of sexual abuse, control and dominance, denial of the seriousness of the crime and dynamics of power and submission. These common traits and attitudes allow us to better understand the psychology of pedophiles and the complexity of their motivations when committing sexual abuse against boys and girls. It is essential to address this problem from a psychological and social perspective to effectively prevent and combat pedophilia and protect minors from possible attacks.