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The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatry Research, challenges thecommonly held belief that pedophilia is brought on by childhood trauma orabuse. This finding is the strongest evidence yet that pedophilia is insteadthe result of a problem in brain development.
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Previous research from this team has strongly hinted that the key tounderstanding pedophilia might be in how the brain develops. Pedophiles havelower IQs, are three times more likely to be left-handed, and even tend to bephysically shorter than non-pedophiles.
"There is nothing in this research that says pedophiles shouldn't be heldcriminally responsible for their actions," said Dr. James Cantor, CAMHPsychologist and lead scientist of the study, "Not being able to choose yoursexual interests doesn't mean you can't choose what you do."
This discovery suggests that much more research attention should be paidto how the brain governs sexual interests. Such information could potentiallyyield strategies for preventing the development of pedophilia.
A total of 127 men participated in the study; approximately equal numbersof pedophiles and non-sexual offenders.
The Kurt Freund Laboratory at CAMH was established in 1968 and remains oneof the world's foremost centers for the research and diagnosis of pedophiliaand other sexual disorders.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is one of the leadingaddiction and mental health organizations in North America and Canada'slargest mental health and addiction teaching hospital. Integrating clinicalcare, scientific research, education, policy development and health promotion,CAMH transforms the lives of people impacted by mental health and addictionissues.
CAMH is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health OrganizationCollaborating Centre, and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.
SOURCE Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
