Citation

Langevin R, Lang RA. Behav. Sci. Law 1985; 3(4): 403-419.

Affiliation

Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 1R8

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/bsl.2370030407

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The main treatment problem of pedophilia is motivating the offender to change. Reasons for the perpetrator's resistance to therapy and strategies for motivating them to change are discussed. Current assumptions about the etiology of this sexual anomaly are examined. Results from a databank of sex offenders are reviewed to show that it is uncommon for pedophiles to be victims of sexual abuse, including incest, and few need pornography as stimulants. Therapeutic difficulties include the egocentric, egosyntonic, and erotically gratifying nature of pedophilia to the perpetrator, his unwillingness to give up his behavior, his tendency to rationalize his acts, and to see the child as consenting. Group therapy and a variety of clinical imagery procedures with case examples are discussed as ways of overcoming the poor motivational state of pedophiles for treatment.