Considerations about pedophilia and child sexual abuse speeches: concepts and differentiations

Abstract

The article discusses the confusion prevalent on social media between pedophilia as a mental disorder and the crime of child sexual abuse. The lack of distinction between individuals with pedophilic disorder and aggressors without such a disorder is highlighted. The study uses Twitter as a source of analysis, collecting popular tweets between December 2019 and July 2020. The methodology combines literature review, exploring medical and legal concepts, and analysis of speeches on Twitter. The results highlight the mistaken association between pedophilia and crime, with opinions emphasizing the condemnation of the "pedophile" without considering clinical nuances. The term "pedophilia" is approached as a medical and legal diagnosis, differentiating it from crimes of child sexual abuse. The study concludes that the lack of in-depth debate on the topic contributes to automatic revulsion, hampering effective preventive proposals and highlights the need to consider treatments in addition to social remoteness to reduce risks of recurrence. The work highlights the importance of deepening the discussion on the conceptualization of pedophilia, considering its clinical and legal implications.