Pedophilia
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Pedophilia or pædophilia (see spelling differences) is the paraphilia of being sexually attracted primarily or exclusively to prepubescent or peripubescent children. Pedophilia is described as a mental disorder by standard diagnosis manuals, including the DSM IV and ICD-10. A person with this attraction is called a pedophile or paedophile.
In contrast to the generally accepted medical definition, the term pedophile is also used colloquially to denote an adult who is sexually attracted to children or sexually attracted to adolescents below the local age of consent, as well as those who have sexually abused a child. Child sexual abuse is an illegal activity in most jurisdictions.
Etymology
An adaptation of the German Pädophilie, bringing its spelling into conformity with pedo- + -philia. Compare the Byzantine Greek παιδοφιλία (paidophilía, “love of children”).
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