Child Sexual Abuse
Perhaps the most notorious of all paraphilias is, unsurprisingly, pedophilia. The DSM defines a pedophile as an individual who fantasizes about, is sexually aroused by, or experiences sexual urges toward prepubescent children (generally under 13 years of age) for a period of at least 6 months. Technically, pedophilia is a diagnostic term used by qualified mental health experts.
The term “molester” is commonly used by professionals and lay people alike and generally can be defined as a significantly older person who engages in any type of sexual activity with anyone legally defined as a child. Practical guidelines to use when interpreting this definition would include considering “significantly older” to be at least five years age difference between perpetrator and victim and that their sexual behavior fit the dynamics of abuse of power that is present in all child sexual exploitation.
