NCJ Number
116954
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1989) Pages: 65-75
Date Published
1989
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A survey was administered to 193 male undergraduate students regarding their sexual interest in children and their responses to questions theoretically relevant to pedophilia.
Abstract
Scales used to assess subjects' self-reported interest in children were Burt's Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence and Malamuth's Likelihood of Raping. Survey questions asked about subjects' use of pornography, child abuse history, sexual functioning, and sexual interest in children. Of the 193 male students, 21 percent reported sexual attraction to some small children, 9 percent described sexual fantasies involving children, 5 percent admitted to having masturbated to such fantasies, and 7 percent indicated some likelihood of having sex with a child if they could avoid detection and punishment. These sexual interests were associated with negative early sexual experiences, masturbation to pornography, self-reported likelihood of raping a women, frequent sex partners, sexual conflicts, and attitudes supportive of sexual dominance over women. The findings did not, however, support clinical theories regarding sexual repression or impulse control problems among potential pedophiles. An appendix lists items on the survey's sexual conflict, repression, and impulse scales. 33 references, 3 tables. (Author abstract modified)