Altered Perception of Age in Pedophilia and Pedophilic Disorder ¹²⁶

The article presents data from an empirical study of the features for age perception in pedophilia (ICD-10) / pedophilic disorder (ICD-11). We consider a phenomenon of individuals with pedophilia what often want to be like children or feel themselves like them. An analytical review of the literature on the subjective perception of age and age identity is provided. The question is discussed on how the chronological assessment of the live time is transformed into a subjective assessment of one's own age, as well as the mechanisms underlying such kind of transformation (in particular, successful or unsuccessful experience of socialization). Three groups of individuals are compared: persons accused of sexual crimes with diagnosis of pedophilia (21 examinees), without such a diagnosis (21 examinees) and 45 examinees of the control group. All of them completed the test on “Age Identity”, “Color Test of Affective Tones” and “Coding”. According to the results the actual and ideal self-image in pedophilia is more infantile and similar to the image of a child. Obtained data indicate the immaturity of sexual sphere in examinees with pedophilia, they perceive sexuality in communicative and playing context.

Keywords: pedophilia, pedophilic disorder, age identity, self-awareness, perception of age.

Column: Empirical research

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpse.2020090106