NCJ Number
217349
Journal
Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: 2006 Pages: 347-359
Date Published
2006
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article analyzes data from a previous study on the nature and extent of clerical sexual abuse and proposes that the diagnosis of ephebophilia characterizes this population better than the diagnosis of pedophilia.
Abstract
Data from the previous study conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice revealed that 80 percent of Catholic priests who had allegations of sexually molesting children between 1950 and 2002, only molested boys. A full 65 percent of these boys were between the ages of 11 and 17 years. The current diagnostic system for identifying, assessing, and treating sexual offenders does not distinguish between pedophilia and other forms of sexual abuse against minors. The authors propose that the diagnosis of ephebophilia, which is a sexual attraction to pubescent or post-pubescent males, is better suited to the sample of Catholic priests in the John Jay study. While the diagnosis of ephebophilia has not been incorporated into the DSM structure, the authors argue that the characteristics of ephebophilia represent a distinct and separate disorder with different predictive variables for identification and treatment. Researchers for the John Jay study completed a Cleric Survey for every priest named in a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor between 1950 and 2002. Their research uncovered 4,392 Catholic priests and deacons that had been accused of sexual abuse of children during the study period. These priests and deacons overwhelmingly committed their sexually offending acts against older children who were predominantly male. While the original intent of the John Jay study was to describe the nature and scope of sexual abuse against minors by Catholic Clergy, the data was also useful to the exploration of factors that may enhance the validity of the diagnosis of ephebophilia. Tables, references