1 1

Pedophilia, Sexual Offending Against Children, Pedophilia, Sexual Offending Against Children,
and the Puzzle of Incest and the Puzzle of Incest
Michael Seto Michael Seto
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
and and
University of Toronto University of Toronto
IASR 2007, Vancouver, BC IASR 2007, Vancouver, BC
Overview Overview
How is pedophilia defined? How is pedophilia defined?
What causes pedophilia? What causes pedophilia?
What is the link between pedophilia and sexual What is the link between pedophilia and sexual
offending against children? offending against children?
What role do antisocial tendencies play? What role do antisocial tendencies play?
What factors can explain incest? What factors can explain incest?
How is Pedophilia Defined? How is Pedophilia Defined?
A A persistent persistent sexual interest in sexual interest in prepubescent prepubescent
children, reflected in thoughts, urges, fantasies, children, reflected in thoughts, urges, fantasies,
sexual arousal, or behaviour. sexual arousal, or behaviour.
Strong form of definition: a Strong form of definition: a preference preference for for
prepubescent children over sexually mature prepubescent children over sexually mature
partners partners
2 2
What Causes Pedophilia? What Causes Pedophilia?
Pedophilia is partly the result of Pedophilia is partly the result of neurodevelopmental neurodevelopmental
perturbations perturbations
IQ IQ
head injury head injury
structural brain differences structural brain differences
What Causes Pedophilia? What Causes Pedophilia?
Pedophilia is partly the result of Pedophilia is partly the result of neurodevelopmental neurodevelopmental
perturbations perturbations
IQ IQ
Pedophilia and IQ Pedophilia and IQ
(Cantor et al., 2004) (Cantor et al., 2004)
85
90
95
100
105
110
Pedophiles
(n=47)
Hebephiles
(n=158)
Teleiophiles
(n=93)
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(
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)

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Q
What Causes Pedophilia? What Causes Pedophilia?
Pedophilia is partly the result of Pedophilia is partly the result of neurodevelopmental neurodevelopmental
perturbations perturbations
IQ IQ
Head injuries Head injuries
3 3
Pedophilia and History of Head Injury Pedophilia and History of Head Injury
(Blanchard et al., 2003) (Blanchard et al., 2003)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
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7
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2 Injuries
1 Injury
Before age 13 Before age 13 age 13 age 13
What Causes Pedophilia? What Causes Pedophilia?
Pedophilia is partly the result of Pedophilia is partly the result of neurodevelopmental neurodevelopmental
perturbations perturbations
IQ IQ
Head injuries Head injuries
Structural brain differences Structural brain differences
Pedophilia and White Matter Volume Pedophilia and White Matter Volume
(Cantor et al., 2006) (Cantor et al., 2006)
Compared 65 pedophiles and 62 nonsex offenders Compared 65 pedophiles and 62 nonsex offenders
Superior Superior occipitofrontal occipitofrontal and right and right arcuate arcuate fasciculus fasciculus
Images of MRI scans removed Images of MRI scans removed
What Causes Pedophilia? What Causes Pedophilia?
Pedophilia is partly the result of Pedophilia is partly the result of neurodevelopmental neurodevelopmental
perturbations perturbations
indicator indicator pedophilia pedophilia
4 4
What Causes Pedophilia? What Causes Pedophilia?
Pedophilia is partly the result of Pedophilia is partly the result of neurodevelopmental neurodevelopmental
perturbations perturbations
indicator indicator
pedophilia pedophilia
perturbation perturbation
What Causes Pedophilia? Part Deux What Causes Pedophilia? Part Deux
Pedophilia is related to childhood sexual contact with Pedophilia is related to childhood sexual contact with
an adult (childhood sexual abuse) an adult (childhood sexual abuse)
Sexual Offending and Childhood Sexual Sexual Offending and Childhood Sexual
vs. Physical Abuse vs. Physical Abuse ( (Lalumire Lalumire et al., 2007) et al., 2007)
Sex offenders vs. non Sex offenders vs. non- -sex offenders sex offenders
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
adolescent
offenders (16)
adult offenders
(10)
sexual
physical
O
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* *
* *
* *
Sexual Offending Sexual Offending Against Children Against Children and and
Childhood Sexual vs. Physical Abuse Childhood Sexual vs. Physical Abuse
Sex offenders with child victims vs. peer victims Sex offenders with child victims vs. peer victims
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
adolescent sex
offenders
adult sex
offenders
sexual
physical
O
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R
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O
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R
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* *
* *
* *
6 6 4 4 9 9 9 9
5 5
Is the Link to Sexual Abuse History Is the Link to Sexual Abuse History
Specific to Pedophilia? Specific to Pedophilia?
Sex offenders who report sexual abuse history are Sex offenders who report sexual abuse history are
more likely to admit pedophilia more likely to admit pedophilia (e.g., Freund et al., 1990) (e.g., Freund et al., 1990)
Sexual abuse history correlated with age, gender, Sexual abuse history correlated with age, gender,
and number of child victims and number of child victims (e.g., Becker et al., 1992; (e.g., Becker et al., 1992;
Hanson & Slater, 1988) Hanson & Slater, 1988)
Sexual abuse history correlated with Sexual abuse history correlated with
phallometrically phallometrically- -assessed sexual arousal to children assessed sexual arousal to children
(Becker et al., 1989, 1992) (Becker et al., 1989, 1992)
Pedophilia and Childhood Sexual Abuse: Pedophilia and Childhood Sexual Abuse:
Possible Mechanisms Possible Mechanisms
Disrupts typical sexual development Disrupts typical sexual development
Correlate of true causal factor (e.g., major Correlate of true causal factor (e.g., major
psychopathology) psychopathology)
Genetic transmission of predisposition Genetic transmission of predisposition
Childhood sexual contact with an adult is itself an Childhood sexual contact with an adult is itself an
early sign of atypical sexual development early sign of atypical sexual development
What is The Link Between Pedophilia and What is The Link Between Pedophilia and
Sexual Offending Against Children? Sexual Offending Against Children?
Sexual offending Sexual offending
against children against children
Pedophilia Pedophilia
Child Pornography Offenders Child Pornography Offenders
(Seto, Cantor, & Blanchard, 2006) (Seto, Cantor, & Blanchard, 2006)
Four groups: Four groups:
(1) (1) 100 child pornography offenders 100 child pornography offenders
(2) (2) 178 offenders against children 178 offenders against children
(3) (3) 216 offenders against adults 216 offenders against adults
(4) (4) 191 general sexology patients 191 general sexology patients
43 child pornography offenders had victimized child 43 child pornography offenders had victimized child
Other sex offenders distinguished by # of victims Other sex offenders distinguished by # of victims
Phallometric testing as measure of sexual interests Phallometric testing as measure of sexual interests
6 6
C
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0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
Many Child Pornography Offenders Have Not Many Child Pornography Offenders Have Not
Had Documented Sexual Contact With a Child Had Documented Sexual Contact With a Child
Sample Description % With History

Bourke & Hernandez 155 federal inmates 24 (85)
FBI Operation Candyman 94 charged men 31
Seto et al. (2006) 100 clinical referrals 43
Seto & Eke (2005) 205 registered sex
offenders
25
Wolak et al. (2005) 429 suspects 40


What Role Do What Role Do Antisocial Tendencies Antisocial Tendencies Play in Play in
Sexual Offending Against Children? Sexual Offending Against Children?
Antisocial personality traits, attitudes, and Antisocial personality traits, attitudes, and
values are important risk factors for sexual values are important risk factors for sexual
offending offending (Hanson & Morton (Hanson & Morton- -Bourgon Bourgon, 2004) , 2004)
Antisocial Tendencies Correlation k N

Nonsexual criminal history .29 12 8,151
Psychopathy .25 13 2,783
Child behaviour problems .17 8 1,996


Antisocial pedophiles Antisocial pedophiles
Interaction of Pedophilia and Interaction of Pedophilia and Antisocial Tendencies Antisocial Tendencies
Seto, Harris, Rice, & Barbaree (2004) Seto, Harris, Rice, & Barbaree (2004)
7 7
Child Pornography Offender Recidivism: Child Pornography Offender Recidivism:
Prior Nonsexual Prior Nonsexual Offense Offense History History (Seto & Eke, 2005) (Seto & Eke, 2005)
N
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b
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r

P
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s
O
f
f
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n
s
e
s
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Failure Any
Reoffense
Violent Sexual
Contact
No
Yes
The Puzzle of Incest The Puzzle of Incest
Biologically, incest occurs between genetic relatives Biologically, incest occurs between genetic relatives
Incest laws and norms include Incest laws and norms include sociolegal sociolegal relatives relatives
Inclusive fitness costs for genetic relatives Inclusive fitness costs for genetic relatives
The Puzzle of Incest, contd The Puzzle of Incest, contd
Costs of incest depend on genetic relatedness, yet Costs of incest depend on genetic relatedness, yet
human incest studies often do not distinguish human incest studies often do not distinguish
according to genetic relatedness according to genetic relatedness
Genetic fathers > extended family > step Genetic fathers > extended family > step- -fathers fathers
Children are at much higher risk of maltreatment Children are at much higher risk of maltreatment
from step from step- -relatives than from genetic relatives relatives than from genetic relatives (Daly & (Daly &
Wilson, 1999) Wilson, 1999)
The Puzzle of Incest, contd The Puzzle of Incest, contd
Incest avoidance & incest taboos are ubiquitous Incest avoidance & incest taboos are ubiquitous
Yet third to half of all sexual offences against Yet third to half of all sexual offences against
children are incestuous (including sociolegal cases) children are incestuous (including sociolegal cases)
What interferes with incest avoidance and What interferes with incest avoidance and
overwhelms incest taboos? overwhelms incest taboos?
8 8
The Puzzle of Incest, contd The Puzzle of Incest, contd
Could pedophilia and/or Could pedophilia and/or antisociality antisociality overwhelm overwhelm
incest avoidance in genetic fathers? incest avoidance in genetic fathers?
Then predict: genetic fathers > other incest Then predict: genetic fathers > other incest
offenders on measures of pedophilia and/or offenders on measures of pedophilia and/or
antisociality antisociality
Incest Offenders Are Not More Likely To Show Incest Offenders Are Not More Likely To Show Pedophilic Pedophilic
Sexual Response Sexual Response (Seto, (Seto, Lalumire Lalumire, & Kuban, 1999) , & Kuban, 1999)
0
5
10
15
20
25
F
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C
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ls
% %
Incest Offenders Are Not More Antisocial Incest Offenders Are Not More Antisocial
(Rice & Harris, 2002; Seto & Barbaree, 1999) (Rice & Harris, 2002; Seto & Barbaree, 1999)
0
5
10
15
20
25
Rice & Harris Seto & Barbaree
I ncest
Extrafamilial
Psychopathy Psychopathy
Score Score
What Factors Can Explain Incest? What Factors Can Explain Incest?
Only a small minority of incest offenders are Only a small minority of incest offenders are
pedophiles or high in antisocial tendencies pedophiles or high in antisocial tendencies
What about the others? What about the others?
Disruptions in early propinquity Disruptions in early propinquity (Westermarck, (Westermarck, 1891 1891) )
Early Early
propinquity propinquity
Familiarity Familiarity
Incest Incest
avoidance avoidance
9 9
Evidence for Early Propinquity Evidence for Early Propinquity
Kibbutzim children: few marriages w/i rearing Kibbutzim children: few marriages w/i rearing
groups groups (Shepher, 1983) (Shepher, 1983)
Minor Taiwanese marriages: more divorce, fewer Minor Taiwanese marriages: more divorce, fewer
children children (Wolf, 1995) (Wolf, 1995)
Brothers & sisters who attempted or engaged in Brothers & sisters who attempted or engaged in
intercourse: more likely to be separated for year intercourse: more likely to be separated for year
or more in early life or more in early life (Bevc & Silverman, 1993, 2000) (Bevc & Silverman, 1993, 2000)
Navy (genetic) fathers: those absent in early Navy (genetic) fathers: those absent in early
childhood are more likely to commit incest childhood are more likely to commit incest (Williams (Williams
& Finkelhor, 1995) & Finkelhor, 1995)
Is Paternity Uncertainty Relevant? Is Paternity Uncertainty Relevant?
Familiarity is a good proximal cue for relatedness, Familiarity is a good proximal cue for relatedness,
but it is not perfect but it is not perfect
Nonpaternity Nonpaternity rates from 2% to 30% rates from 2% to 30% (Anderson, 2006) (Anderson, 2006)
Paternity uncertainty associated with being Paternity uncertainty associated with being
unmarried and unplanned pregnancy unmarried and unplanned pregnancy (Anderson et al., in (Anderson et al., in
press) press)
Other cues? Relationship dissatisfaction and conflict, Other cues? Relationship dissatisfaction and conflict,
sexual jealousy, infidelity, and propinquity at time of sexual jealousy, infidelity, and propinquity at time of
conception conception
If not genetically related, then not biological incest If not genetically related, then not biological incest
Summary Summary
Pedophilia is a persistent sexual interest in, or Pedophilia is a persistent sexual interest in, or
preference for, preference for, prepubertal prepubertal children children
Pedophilia is partly the result of Pedophilia is partly the result of
neurodevelopmental neurodevelopmental perturbations, and is related to perturbations, and is related to
childhood sexual abuse childhood sexual abuse
At least half of sex offenders against children are At least half of sex offenders against children are
pedophiles, but how many pedophiles have had pedophiles, but how many pedophiles have had
sexual contact with a child? sexual contact with a child?
Summary, contd Summary, contd
Antisociality Antisociality explains persistence of sexual explains persistence of sexual
offending, and perhaps onset offending, and perhaps onset
Incest is only partly explained by propinquity, Incest is only partly explained by propinquity,
pedophilia, and pedophilia, and antisocial tendencies antisocial tendencies; ; perhaps it is perhaps it is
also related to paternity uncertainty? also related to paternity uncertainty?
10 10
Acknowledgements Acknowledgements
Collaborators Collaborators
Howard Howard Barbaree Barbaree
Ray Blanchard Ray Blanchard
J ames Cantor J ames Cantor
Meredith Chivers Meredith Chivers
Angela Eke Angela Eke
Grant Harris Grant Harris
Ashley J espersen Ashley J espersen
Michael Kuban Michael Kuban
Martin Martin Lalumi Lalumi re re
Vern Quinsey Vern Quinsey
Marnie Marnie Rice Rice
Funding Funding
Correctional Service of Canada Correctional Service of Canada
Ontario Mental Health Foundation Ontario Mental Health Foundation
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council