paedophilia
Last reviewed 01/2018
Paedophilia is the repeated sexual activity - or fantasy of such activity - with prepubertal children. This is the sole or preferred means of an individual realising sexual excitement.
It is almost exclusively a disorder of men.
Paedophiles can be classified into two groups. The first group is individuals who have sexual relations with individuals who, though prepubertal, are only a few years younger than them. The second category contains older men who deliberately choose a sexual partner who is still a child.