Child pornography offenses are a valid diagnostic indicator of pedophilia.

TLDR

The study examined whether a charge of child pornography offense can serve as a valid diagnostic indicator of pedophilia, measured by phallometric arousal to children. A sample of 685 male patients referred for sexological assessment between 1995 and 2004 was used to evaluate their sexual interests and behaviors. Child pornography offenders displayed markedly higher phallometric arousal to children than to adults and differed from other sex offender groups, suggesting that child pornography offending is a stronger diagnostic indicator of pedophilia than sexual offending against child victims, with theoretical and clinical implications discussed.

Abstract

This study investigated whether being charged with a child pornography offense is a valid diagnostic indicator of pedophilia, as represented by an index of phallometrically assessed sexual arousal to children. The sample of 685 male patients was referred between 1995 and 2004 for a sexological assessment of their sexual interests and behavior. As a group, child pornography offenders showed greater sexual arousal to children than to adults and differed from groups of sex offenders against children, sex offenders against adults, and general sexology patients. The results suggest child pornography offending is a stronger diagnostic indicator of pedophilia than is sexually offending against child victims. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.