Problem 5

Question 1

Is the nature and magnitude of regional brain activation associated with sexual arousal different between pedophilic and non-pedophilic men?

Answer 1

No,

All activated brain regions associated with sexual arousal in one group are also found in the other

BUT: the number of significant foci was higher in the pedo group

Question 2

Pedophilic disorder

Answer 2

Refers to a sexual attraction towards children that causes significant distress and impairment by

1. fantasies and urges
2. the acting out on behavioral level

Question 3

Pedophilia

Answer 3

Refers to an ongoing sexual attraction toward prepubertal children

Question 4

Concerning sexual offending against children, there are 2 groups that can be distinguished.

Name them.

Answer 4

1. Those who show no sexual preference disorder but likely due to various impulse control disorders abuse children
2. Those with pedophilia

Question 5

Is every man suffering from pedophilia automatically a sexually offender ?

Answer 5

No,

Not everyone acts on their urges

–> some restrict their desire to fantasies only

THUS: it is important to differentiate pedophilic disorder and pedophilic sexual preference

Question 6

Prevalence of pedophilia as a preference disorder

Answer 6

Approx. 1%

–> but when general fantasies are investigated it can reach up to 3-5% in the male population

Question 7

Does pedophilia exist in women?

Answer 7

Currently there is no reliable estimate of pedophilia in women

–> one cannot be sure if it even exists in women

Question 8

Methods for diagnosing pedophilia

Answer 8

1. Clinical exploration
2. Five tanner stages
3. Penile Plethysmography
4. Viewing time paradigm
5. Pictorial stroop task

Question 9

Clinical exploration

Answer 9

Assessing the content of sexual fantasies during masturbation - reveals:

1. gender preferences
2. body scheme age of the “partner”
3. favored practices

–> here one can assess the sexual preference structure in detail

Question 10

Five Tanner stages

Answer 10

Refers to a method for diagnosing pedophilia in which the body scheme age preference can be assessed

–> the process of physiological maturing is described here by focusing on the development of the secondary sex characteristics from 1 (prepubescent) to 5 (adult)

Question 11

Penile plethysmography/Phallometry

(PPG)

Answer 11

Measures genital sexual arousal through sexual stimuli and is based on the relative change in penile response

–> most well-known objective method of measuring pedophilic interest

Question 12

Circumferential method

(PPG)

Answer 12

Measures intra-individual changes in penile girth through a wire band fitted around the base of the penis in response to differing classes of sexual stimuli

–> one PPG method

Question 13

Volumetric method (PPG)

Answer 13

Uses a glass tube fitted around the penis to measure calibrated air output as a result of erection

–> sensitive to small changes, so when assessing partial or non-admitters do not stand a chance

Question 14

Viewing time paradigm

Answer 14

Measures the length of time a participant spends looking at specific images

–> one will look significantly longer at sexually arousing stimuli, thus it can be used as a sexual preference indicator

Question 15

Pictorial stroop task

Answer 15

Involves

1. presenting words or images to participants that may be sexually salient

2. stimuli are presented in one of 4 colors which participants must identify as quickly as possible

3. consistent delay in responding to certain categories of stimuli is hypothesized to be a product of the salience of those stimuli to the individual

–> thus implicit sexual associations that exert their effects automatically are measured

Question 16

Comorbid disorders with pedophilia

Answer 16

1. Mood + anxiety disorders

2. Substance abuse history

3. Personality disorders

–> OCD, antisocial, narcissistic, avoidant

Question 17

Name the general neuropsychological dysfunctions in pedophilic AND non-pedophilic child molesters.

Answer 17

1. Lower IQ

–> lower levels of academic achievement

2. Lower job capacity

3. Higher frequency of left-handedness

Question 18

Name the cognitive deficits shown and noticed only in pedophilic child molesters.

Answer 18

Deficits with

1. Verbal + spatial WM
2. Emotion recognition + empathy
3. Attention
4. Executive function

Question 19

Etiology/Neurodevelopment of pedophilia

Answer 19

1. Masturbatory conditioning
2. Childhood sexual abuse
3. Frontal lobe theory
4. Temporal lobe theory

Question 20

Frontal lobe theory

Answer 20

Suggests that there are noticeable structural + functional differences seen in the Orbitofrontal + left and right DLPFC of pedophilic men

–> since OFC is responsible for behavioral control + inhibiting sexual behavior, dysfunction may explain pedophilia

Question 21

Dual lobe theory

Answer 21

Suggests that both frontal + temporal disturbances are responsible for the range of behaviors seen in pedophilia

–> e.g. diminished impulse control (PFC), hyper sexuality (TL)

Question 22

Temporal-Limbic theory

Answer 22

Suggests that functional + structural differences in the temporal lobes leads to misattributed emotional salience and valence toward children

–> results in an increase in pedophilic behaviors

Question 23

Where does sexual differentiation and development of sexual preference stem from ?

Answer 23

An interplay between the impact of sex chromosomes on gene expression + sex hormones

Question 24

Teleiophilia

Answer 24

Refers to a minors or adults sexual attraction to mature adults

Question 25

Hebephilia

Answer 25

Refers to a strong, persistent **sexual interest by adults in pubescent children who are in early adolescence** --\> typically ages 11–14

Question 26

Pedophilic men with a history of sexual offending show a trend for increased left handedness. Where does this result from?

Answer 26

A **lack of prenatal testosterone exposure**

Question 27

Heritability, epigenetic and life events influencing the development of pedophilia.

Answer 27

**1. Stressful events during childhood** --\> e.g. child sexual abuse **2. Number of head injuries before age 13** **3. Lower IQ + shorter stature** **4. Weak heritability** though THUS: epigenetics have a great influence on pedophilia

Question 28

How does a neurotransmitter dysbalance, influence the development of pedophilia?

Answer 28

There may be an **increased sex drive** due to 1. low serotonergic inhibition 2. high dopaminergic excitation

Question 29

**Functional brain alterations i**nfluencing the development of pedophilia.

Answer 29

**1. Dysfunction of the PFC** --\> disinhibition **2. Dysfunction of the Temporal cortex** --\> sexual preoccupation/hypersexual

Question 30

**Structural brain alterations** influencing the development of pedophilia.

Answer 30

1. Volume reduction of the amygdala + hypothalamus 2. Gray matter reduction

Question 31

Exclusive vs non-exclusive type of pedophilia

Answer 31

Only children vs Children + adults

Question 32

Is it possible to use brain scans to figure out if you're a pedophile ?

Answer 32

**fMRI works quite well** to differentiate between pedophiles and non-pedophiles --\> _but unsure if this works with other machines too, also they were admitting pedophiles_

Question 33

Why are antidepressants increasingly used to treat pedophilia?

Answer 33

Because, depressed people reported a loss of sex drive due to them --\> **SSRIs enhance the serotonin levels in an individual**

Question 34

Treatment options for pedophilia?

Answer 34

**Options are really low** 1. CBT only works in 1/5 people 2. SSRI 3. Testosterone lowering medication --\> a lot of side effects