Customer Reviews

Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions

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A more apt title would be: "Sexuality - Biosocial dimensions". In order to establish a theoretical framework on which to base a discussion of pedophilia, the book reviews several general theories on sexual behavior. The book is therefore a valuable ressource for anybody who wants to get a general understanding of sexual behavior from the point of view of behavioral biology (=ethology) as well as for those who want to understand the biological roots of pedophilia. Unlike psychological texts, this book is virtually free of moral judgments and emotional vocabulary.

The topic is explored from all angles, and I agree with the reader from Copenhagen: we see objectivity in an area where objectivity is lacking.

I take issue, however, with the article written by the editor himself. He assumes that an overdose of love for children will result in sexual attraction for children. Rather, I see people of all ages and both genders needing people of all ages and both genders, and I see people of different age/gender groups fulfilling different needs.

Research tells us that:

1. a pedophile tends to lack early experience in nurturing children younger than himself

2. pedophiles seldom offend against a child whom he had nurtured from infancy, and in fact, tends not to have nurtured any child from infancy

In light of these findings, one might conclude that pedophilia is impossible in an extended family setting, which is exactly what predominated until very recently in our evolutionary history.

In this collection of essays, the topic is explored from many different angles.

Some of the writers observe other animal species. Anderson & Bielert tell us that preadolescent sex play abounds in other primate species, whereas there is very little intergenerational sex. de Wall surveys the bonobo species, in which adult males mount female juveniles. Eibl-Eibesfeldt summarizes childlike features and gestures in animals. Feierman comments that no nonhuman primate has ever been observed to prefer juveniles.

Some of the writers study history and prehistory. Diamond tells us about the culture of pre-Western Hawaii. Mackey theorizes on the origins of playfighting between adults and children.