psych confustion - cuma12

[ArchivalUser]

ok I am confused between pedophelia and statutory rape
it says that a pedophile is over 16 and 5 years older than the victim - victim is younger than 14
statutory rape is victim is younger than 16 or 18 depending on the state

so what if the victim was 11 and the person that committed this was 21. is that pedophelia or rape?

thanks guys! k

[ArchivalUser]

Pedophilia is an actual Psychiatric diagnosis listed in the DSM under "Paraphilias."
DSM states that : The pedophile is at least 16 years old, and 5 years older than the child, while the child (or children) involved must be "prepubescent," (generally age 13 years or younger), and the behavior goes on for at least 6 months, and causes marked distress....3 criteria.

Statutory rape is a type of "legal" term used to refer to sexual activities/behaviors that are usually consensual and do not involve threat or force.
However, the ages of those involved in statutory rape, as well as the punishments, vary from state to state. But definitely, one or both of them are minors

Consensual sex is also considered "statutory rape" when the victim is a minor (or younger than 16 or 18 years old as per state law) and is also "physically or mentally impaired."

A question cannot ask you "Is this statutory rape or pedophilia" unless it provides ample history for you to diagnose that the aggressor is a pedophile, or it provides information about the situation itself where you can decide that it is a case of "statutory rape."

I hope it is clearer.
Apologies for the long post

[ArchivalUser]

child 11 and person 21 = pedophilia

[ArchivalUser]

@ psychmledr thank you so much for the detail explanation!!
Makes sense!