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Related Experiment Videos

Autopedophilia.

Kevin J Hsu1, J Michael Bailey1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Northwestern University.

Psychological Science
|December 1, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Men attracted to children may experience erotic-target identity inversion (ETII), fantasizing about being children. This study found autopedophilia, or arousal from being a child, common in men attracted to children, supporting ETII concepts.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sexuality Studies
  • Gender Studies

Background:

  • Male sexual orientation has multiple dimensions beyond gender attraction.
  • These dimensions include attraction to children versus adults and attraction to others versus self-fantasy.
  • Erotic-target identity inversion (ETII) describes arousal from the fantasy of being the target of attraction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ETIIs in men attracted to children.
  • To explore the phenomenon of autopedophilia within this population.
  • To examine the relationship between ETII and other dimensions of sexual orientation.

Main Methods:

  • An online survey was conducted.
  • The study included 475 men with a sexual interest in children.
Keywords:
autogynephiliaautopedophiliaerotic-target identity inversionparaphiliapedohebephiliasexual orientation

Related Experiment Videos

  • Data on sexual arousal patterns and fantasies were collected.

    • Main Results:

    • Autopedophilia, or sexual arousal from the idea of being a child, was frequently observed.
    • Men with autopedophilia often reported arousal from imagining themselves as children matching their attraction targets (gender and age).
    • These findings support the existence and significance of ETIIs.

    Conclusions:

    • The concept of erotic-target identity inversion is supported by these findings.
    • Male sexual orientation is complex, involving gender, maturity, and self-identity dimensions.
    • Understanding ETIIs is crucial for a comprehensive view of sexual orientation.