PEDOPHILIA VERSUS PEDERASTIA

Pedophilia versus pederastia, both speak of the presence of an illicit link between an adult and a minor. This is where there is a romantic or sexual attraction on the part of the former towards the latter. The main difference lies in whether or not the sexual attraction takes the form of an action.

Whereas a pedophile may only feel the impulse and have recurrent sexual fantasies in which the object of desire is minors. A pederast is considered to be one who has committed the actual sexual act. The pederast has had sexual intercourse with a child and the pedophile does not actually perform the act and is limited to desire or fantasy.

For this reason not all pedophiles are pederast, while as a rule every pederast is a pedophile. However, this is not always true either. We can find cases of sexual abuse of minors without them being the object of sexual preference on the part of the adult.

Pedophilia is a paraphilia, a disorder of sexual inclination. It is characterised by the presence of recurrent fantasies that produce a high level of sexual arousal. The object of desire is an object, non-consenting persons or entities or a situation of humiliation and suffering of oneself and others. Experiencing such fantasies can lead to their realisation and/or feelings of intense discomfort for the sufferer. But let us take a closer look at each of the cases separately.

PEDOPHILE VERSUS PEDERAST

In pedophilia, the object of desire or the object of sexual attraction is per-pubescent boys or girls. It can be considered a chronophilia, as there is a big difference between the age of the subject and that of the object of desire. To diagnose it, it is necessary that the subject is older than sixteen years of age and that the victim is at least five years younger. Consensual sexual liaison between subjects in their late teens with individuals at least thirteen years of age is therefore not included.

The pedophile usually seeks contact with his object of desire. He often needs pornographic images and self-stimulation based on his fantasies, but does not necessarily attempt to engage in sexual intercourse.

Pederasts, however, are those individuals in whom the pedophile’s own fantasies are acted out. Therefore, in pederasty, sexual abuse of minors is committed. This abuse includes all conduct in which a minor is used as a sexual object by an individual with whom there is a relationship of unequal age, power or maturity.

It is a criminal practice punishable by law that can have serious repercussions on the present and future psychosocial and sexual development of the child being abused. Even if the sexual relationship is consented by the child, if the child is below the age of sexual consent, the act itself will be considered abuse and will be classified as rape.