In addition to Swaab (2010), Seto (2009; 2012) is also of the opinion that the development of the brain in the womb has a crucial influence on the determination of gender identity and sexual orientation. Yet not all scientists fully agree with that. Renowned brain scientists such as Jordan-Young (2012), LeVay (2016) and Savic & Lindström (2008) do not believe that all homosexual men and women and pedophiles are born with a different brain due to neurobiological developmental aspects, thus fixing their sexual preference for the rest of their lives. They point to the influence of genes and to developments during upbringing and life course as co-influencing factors of pedophilia. Yet they also recognize the important role of brain development in the development of this sexual preference. The fact that sexual differentiation is predominantly congenital has implications for the treatment of pedophilia, according to a number of authors (Swaab, 2010; Van Tongeren, 2012; Seto; 2009), because this would determine the orientation and cannot be changed through learning. For that reason, they advocate alternative treatment methods aimed at channelling pedophile sexual arousal and controlling sexual drive so that it does not lead to a crime. According to them, impulse control is important. After all, with heterosexual men it is also seen as a crime if they cannot control their urges with women (Swaab, 2010; Seto, 2009; 2012).
If pedophilia could not be unlearned, because it is largely influenced by the brain, it seems relevant to look for treatment methods that are focused on acceptance, restraining and learning to deal with it, so an escalation of their needs and child abuse can be prevented. Because attention is paid to the brains influence on the sexual orientation and, on the other hand, the physical aspect is looked at, because ways are being sought to control and channel pedophile sexual urges in a responsible and human manner. Swaab (2010) claims that all sexual modes can be explained by early neurobiological development factors in the brain. The early developmental factors would ensure that "the brain follows an atypical developmental trajectory", which causes structural brain differences that indicate pedophilia early in development. For example, in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis, the hypothalamus, and the amygdala of pedophiles there would be fewer nerve cells (gray matter) (Swaab, 2010). Swaab also sees indications for a genetic factor, because a high percentage (18%) of sexual deviant behaviour is found among first-degree family members. Seto (2007) believes that the hereditary factor does not necessarily indicate pedophilia and can also be related to an extreme attraction to youthfulness as a result of a psychological disorder, such as a psychosis or a lack of empathy, says Dominique (2017). ).
Only recently has it been accepted within the knowledge that pedophilia is not a psychiatric disorder but a sexual orientation (Seto, 2012). In addition to Swaab (2010), Seto (2009; 2012), Hall & Hall (2009), Van Es (2016) and Van Tongeren (2012) label pedophilia as a separate orientation that is fixed. According to them, this has important consequences for its treatment. Since sexual orientation cannot be unlearned, treatments should focus more specifically on reducing pedophilic feelings and controlling sexual drive (Seto, 2009; Hall & Hall, 2009; Swaab, 2010). Although it is still insufficiently proven, Diamond, Jozifkova & Weiss (2011) state that animated child pornography can offer a solution as an additional method. This form of pornography would not harm children and provide pedophiles with a way to prevent them from harassing children with their urges. This assumption led to the following statement, which is central to the argument: "Animated virtual child pornography is an adequate additional treatment method for clients with pedophilia."
Incidentally, it is important to note that pedophilia is not the same as pedosexual behavior. Someone with a sexual preference for children does not have to have sexual contact with children. Pedosexual crimes, such as abuse in combination with the production and distribution of child pornography, are usually committed by anti-social personalities (Van Lunsen, 2000). For the record, it must be realized that this argument is about pedophilia and not about pedosexual behaviour.
History of pedophilia
"Sexual contact with an adult can be a positive experience for a child," said Theo Sandfort (1987) in his book "Boys about Friendship and Sex with Men." This quote seems to be contrary to the current view of pedophilia, in which sex with children is by definition seen as abuse. In the present time it seems unthinkable that there have been times when there was no taboo on this. However, that is by no means true. For example, a relationship (including sex) between children and adults, called pederasty, was normal in Greek and Roman antiquity. It had an educational purpose: imparting moral and cultural values and getting acquainted with sexual diversity. In addition, it also had a ritual function. The early Christians were strongly opposed to this, because they resisted anything that had to do with the pagan culture that they abhor. Homophilia and pedophilia were considered a disease and punishable. This view was adopted in the Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions (Laes, 2012). After centuries of repression of homosexuals and pedophiles, it seemed that in our country (and in other Western European countries) in the 1970s there was more freedom to think about deviant sexual behaviours. This was the result of the sexual revolution, which broke many sexual taboos and liberalized sexuality, which led to acceptance of deviant sexual behaviour, liberalization of abortion, contraception, sex before marriage, legalization of prostitution and pornography. As a result, a free vision of pedophilia was developed and scientists called for acceptance (McLaren, 1999). It was suggested to legalize child pornography and sex with young people from the age of twelve. A distinction was made between loving, reciprocal pedophile relationships and sexual relationships between adults and children where abuse of power occurs. This never happened: scientists were sympathetic to pedophiles, but not society. Under pressure from the emerging debate about sexual abuse and violence, the tide turned against pedophiles, with profound implications for ideas about counselling and punishment, making pedophilia in the 80s and 90s again seen as a disease (Pekelder, 2006).
Characteristics and origin of pedophilia
In the DSM-V of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) (2013), pedophilia is considered a paraphilia, or a sexual disorder. A person has a pedophile disorder if he feels a sexual arousal for children up to 13 years of age for a period of at least six months. This is reflected in fantasies, tendencies and behaviours that cause suffering to a significant extent and / or cause limitations in social or professional functioning. The person must be at least 16 years old and more than five years older than the children (APA, 2013). Estimates of the prevalence of pedophilia vary. Seto (2009) estimates that about 1% to 3% of the male population would suffer from a psychiatric pedophilia diagnosis, while Ahlers et al. (2011) amount to 9.5% of men and 3.5% of women and Dombert et al. (2016) assume that around 4% of men would have sexual fantasies about prepubescent children. In addition to the aforementioned scientists such as Swaab and Seto, other scientists also argue that pedophilia is the result of a developmental disorder that started before birth or in childhood. Ward & Beech (2006) point to a combination of neurobiological factors, psychological and social factors. In addition, childhood head injuries would occur more frequently in pedophiles, and there would be structural abnormalities in areas of the brain related to sexual development. Blanchard et al. (2006) state that pedophilia could be the result of a pre- and / or perinatal neurological developmental disorder, also referred to as the "Developmental Instability Model". Cantor et al. (2007) point to various neurobiological deficits in pedophile sex offenders. In previously mentioned research by Swaab (2010) and Schilz (2007), pedosexual sex offenders found abnormalities in areas of the brain that are crucial for sexual development. Kogel (2008) states that early brain development is of great importance in the development of pedophilia, but also acknowledges that the prevalence of brain injury plays an important role. Blanchard et al. (2006) also showed that pedophiles more often have a lower intelligence and are more likely to remain seated or receive special education. Seto (2012) and Seto, Reeves & Jung (2010) found indications that pedophile interest can also develop at a later age, for example by watching child pornography, but according to Swaab (2010) this would not be possible because the sexual preference is already established.
Treatment methods and alternatives: animated child porn
Current treatment methods consist of cognitive behavioural therapy, whether or not in combination with pharmacological treatment. They focus on relapse prevention and learning self-control (McGrath, Cumming & Burchard, 2003), promoting empathy, reducing sexual preoccupation, crime scenario, stress and anger management and promoting coping skills (Kafka, 2001). All this to prevent pedophiles from falling back into their old behaviour. A lot of attention is focused on the factors that evoke and sustain crime in the here and now. The treatment model includes denial and minimize themes, cognitive distortion, deviant fantasies, empathy with the victim, social competence and relapse prevention (Frenken & van Beek, 1998). Pharmacological interventions can be hormonal (chemical castration) or psychotropic medication, which focuses on serotonin levels in the brain, which makes a pedophile more susceptible to a more socially acceptable experience of sexuality (Bradford, 2001). However, such treatment is always accompanied by individual cognitive behavioural therapy. In addition, group therapy is sometimes used as a supplement. Interactions that take place in the context of the group can lead to changes in the deviant sexual behaviour of the group members (Vroege, Nicolaï & van de Wiel, 2001). The advantage of group therapy is mutual social support, which means that hard-to-discuss topics are not rejected and people can learn from each other.
According to Gijs (1998), cognitive behavioural therapy and hormonal interventions have shown that they significantly reduce recidivism. This concerns research into illegal deviant and sexual behaviour that has been extended to paraphilias. With other forms of treatment, such as psychoanalysis, there appears to be a slight increase in relapse (Lösel & Schmucker, 2005). Swaab (2010) emphasizes the importance of impulse control, because the substance does not change sexual orientation. He argues that knowledge must be gathered in order to focus in the treatment methods on reducing the risks of child abuse. Van Es (2016) agrees and, based on a recent literature review, suggests that impulse control is the highest attainable because pedophilia cannot be cured. Virtual child pornography could offer a solution, because various studies (Kutchinsky, 1973; Diamond et al., 2011) show that after allowing the downloading of animated child pornography, the number of children being sexually abused is structurally reduced. A study by Diamond, Jozifkova and Weiss, (2011) from former Czechoslovakia from 1989 shows that impulses are in no way aggravated by child pornography. The ban on the possession of porn was lifted after the fall of the communist regime, after which the number of child abuse cases dropped from 2000 to 1500 a year. A link between the two has never been demonstrated, but this would point to the fact that child pornography in any case does not encourage more abuse. Large-scale research by Diamond, Jozifkova and Weiss (2007) into the effects of looking at child pornography in Denmark and Japan, among others, showed that frequent use of child pornography leads to a decrease in sexual offenses.
Virtual animated pornography meets the needs of pedophiles and prevents them from harassing children with their urges (Van Es, 2016). Research by Diamond et al. (2011) into the effects of watching cartoons with children having sex, among others in Denmark and Japan, showed that frequent use of child pornography leads to a decrease in sexual offenses. That is exactly the other way around than is usually thought, namely that these films have a stimulating effect that leads to action and offense. Although these results seem to be a good argument for the use of child pornography in the treatment of pedophiles, child pornography goes against all ethical values, because from a legal point of view pedophilia is forbidden to protect the child. For that reason, a number of scientists want to explore the possibilities of virtual animated child pornography. Virtual pornography means images that are not based on real children, but that do create that impression. Muller, Van der Leun, Van Moerings, & Van Calster (2010) point in that respect to lifting the ban on virtual child pornography, which has been in force since 2002, so that it can be investigated whether this actually works. Swaab (2010) agrees with this. He believes that stigma has a counterproductive effect and should be used to investigate ways that pedophiles can help them manage their feelings. In addition, the possibility of animated child pornography should be further explored.
According to him, this can help to give people the opportunity to dare to come into contact with their feelings at an early stage. In this way they can gain control over it and "manage" it (Swaab, 2010). At present, such research is not getting started because virtual child pornography is prohibited. The argument of politicians to criminalize these types of images is that they can cause harm because they suggest abuse. The law was created in response to the practice that people edit existing photo and film material, so that images are created. All demand that (indirectly) stimulates the production of child pornography, and therefore the abuse of children, is punishable. As a result, research into impulse control and the role of virtual child pornography is stagnating.
That virtual child pornography would lead to pedo-sexuality and child abuse is a common opinion, but that is not a fact. If the parallel is continued in that opinion, would shooting games also lead to murder? As mentioned, it has been found that virtual child pornography does not incite extra crimes. The conviction that the solution-oriented use of virtual child pornography even works against sexual child abuse deserves a warm recommendation to be investigated further and more firmly so that all this can be substantiated with more facts. That virtual child pornography is "unthinkable" in the Netherlands is a bad thing. Using animated child pornography as a therapy that is solution-oriented is the point that deserves a warm recommendation to investigate further and with greater rigor and to substantiate with facts.
Conclusion
Now that I have considered all arguments for and against the proposition that animation with regard to pedophilia can work well as a method, I come to the following conclusions:
- Since it is essentially neurobiologically demonstrated that pedophilia, like homosexuality, is innate and cannot be changed, pedophilia will not be remedied with punishment, public rejection or medication.
- Pedophilia, as with homosexuality, has for a long time been seen as a disease that can be cured. Although pedophilia entails the risk that children will be harmed, it is important that we accept that there is no cure and that alternative treatment should therefore be considered to prevent abuse.
- If pedophilia, not to be confused with a pedosexual crime, is more accepted, these people no longer have to hide. They can then receive better guidance. This fact alone can reduce the abuse.
- Morally, it is not necessarily reprehensible to watch animated child pornography. Certainly in comparison to watching games in which people are murdered, which is allowed, it can be called debatable. It is crazy that virtual murder, rape or other virtual crimes are allowed, while virtual child pornography should be banned. It has been found that pedophiles who are close to the border to abuse, despite knowing that this is wrong, benefit from this virtual child pornography. (Decrease in child abuse rates in the Czech Republic after legalizing porn).
- Most child abusers are not pedophiles. Rather, there are "occasional offenders" who do not have their impulses under control because of, for example, a sex addiction.
- Methods should place more emphasis on impulse control and channelling needs and drives through, for example, virtual animated child pornography.
- Further research is needed into the effects of virtual animated child pornography as a method of counselling for pedophilia, so that facts determine discussion and perception rather than tendencies.
Daisy Jacobs
sexpower.online
