Crime Psychology Question

gothicangel

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I'm writing a novel which circulates around a cold 'solved' case. The case involves the abduction and murder of a child by a convicted paedophile. My problem is that the first victim was a girl, the second a boy. Would I be correct in thinking that a paedophile is would either be attracted to only boys or only girls?

This would work for my novel as this psychological point will reveal the case is only 'half' solved.

*Please stay on subject. I know this is a subject causes strong passions, but this is a purely scientific question.
 

Horseshoes

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While there are preferential pedophiles who only prey on a gender, often only an age, many, many of them are opportunists who prey on a range of victims. It is perfectly reasonable for your story to have a predator who victimizes both male and female children.
 

dgiharris

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Some pedophiles don't mind.

But I will also say that pedophiles are very very interesting from a clinical standpoint. My uncle deals with them.

A few tidbits. For some wierd reason, they are prone to pissing and shitting themselves. They also are never 'cured'. PERIOD. They also don't see their acts as crimes but rather love. Most pedophiles are completely sincere in their love for children, they just express it sexually.

In a nutshell, if you are going to write a book on pedophiles, make sure you do lots of research.

Mel...
 

gothicangel

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Thanks for that.

Is there anywhere I can read in depth on the psychology of paedophiles? (I'm a undergrad so I do have access to the Uni library.)
 

gothicangel

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Thanks for that dgiharris.

There is going to be one scene in particular, and that raises some interesting possibilities.

I'll get down to the Uni library asap!
 

dgiharris

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I would say there should be tons of literature on pedophiles.

Also, there should be social programs that deals with sex offenders. These people LOVE to talk, though they can never mention specific names.

Take a couple out for coffee and they will have stories for you that you will not believe.

Mel...
 

psykeout

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Any psychologist should be able to give you some insight. See if you can't get in to talk to an actual criminal psychologist, given the internet, it shouldn't be too terribly difficult if you live within 20 miles of any major city (and MooseKnuckle, Alaska is NOT a major city).

Pedophiles are phenomenally interesting and typically have a history of some sort of abuse. I agree with digharris in the fact that you need to do a lot of research. You're going to have an uphill battle trying to get this to seem like it's real and not anger people in your quest for knowledge.

Best of luck.
 

veinglory

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Psychology is like law, it pays to talk to a specialist not just any psychologist. There are a lot of myths and lore in this area that are not really very accurate.
 

Oukami

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I agree with the person above, that finding an exact psychologist is important but many students get a bit of info on things like murders and pedophiles.

Also, only because you're in the UK, Channel 4 and occasionally FIVE have good documentaries on this sort of behaviour, with a lot of stuff coming from the profs. Like the real life crime stuff. Sorry if this is too late to be of any help thou
 

citymouse

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The common definition of a pedophile is one who is sexually attracted to children.
While a paederast is one who attracted to boys.
So while all paederasts are paedophiles not all paedophiles are paederasts.
But beyond the technical definition of the term, the crime is not so simple to pin down.

Paedophilia, like rape, which is a crime of violence, is not simply about sexual gratification or even preference. It is a crime borne out of a need to control another person in the most primal and basic means. The violation of innocence and the dominance of a much weaker person has less to do with sexual preference but rather circumstances in the perpetrator's psychological make up.

As a criminal event the details are straightforward. If you get into the mind, then you will find yourself in very dark waters.
C


I'm writing a novel which circulates around a cold 'solved' case. The case involves the abduction and murder of a child by a convicted paedophile. My problem is that the first victim was a girl, the second a boy. Would I be correct in thinking that a paedophile is would either be attracted to only boys or only girls?

This would work for my novel as this psychological point will reveal the case is only 'half' solved.

*Please stay on subject. I know this is a subject causes strong passions, but this is a purely scientific question.