Canadian specialists claim pedophilia is sexual orientation
Medical professionals in Canada believe that pedophilia is a sexual orientation. In addition to that, they claim it is partially wired in the brain and cannot be altered. According to Dr. James Cantor and his group of scientists from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, a decade of research has brought them to the conclusion that some are born as pedophiles, being attracted to kids.
Researchers said that one to five percent of all men are pedophiles. “It’s become harder and harder to explain pedophilia on just (early childhood events),”Dr. Cantor explained, “It’s either purely biological or a mix of biological and experiential. But pure experience can’t explain these data.”
Dr. Cantor said that physical traits, determined before birth, are predictors for pedophilia — making it “prenatal.” The doctor explained “cross-wiring” in the brain can be found in sex offenders. Things which usually motivate adults to nurture and protect brings out a sexual response in pedophiles. Researchers investigated pedophilia by giving sex offenders MRI scans and discovered they have less connective tissue in the brain if compared to other criminals.
Still, Dr. Michael Seto said that sex offenders and pedophiles must be distinguished. “Not all sex offenders who target children are pedophiles, and not all pedophiles are sex offenders,” Dr. Seto said, forensic researcher with the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group. Only about 50 to 60 percent of sex offenders are considered pedophiles to Dr. Seto.
More recently, Canada publicly announced that they would administer tougher forms of punishment for child predators however Dr. Seto thinks this is a misguided approach. This medical professional believes it will “further drive individuals underground”. “It could also lead to problems that decrease the likelihood they can successfully be integrated,” he said.
“Right now, it's really slanted so that the treatment services are for people who have gotten into trouble,” Dr. Seto explained and then continued on, “Obviously, we need that, but I think where there is a big gap is in terms of prevention. How do we reach people who are sexually attracted to children and are aware of it?” Dr. Seto believes that deeming pedophilia as a sexual orientation could stop children from being sexually abused.
“Pedophiles will remain hidden if they continue to be hated and feared, which would impede efforts to better understand this sexual orientation and thereby prevent child sexual exploitation,” he wrote. VoR