Is Pedophilia a learned behavior?

[KillerDog]

Am I incorrect in recalling that the wide held notion that these individuals were predominately victims of abuse themselves has been dis-proven in recent years?

I don't know. I just know that I read an article where a bunch of non-acting pedophiles were cited as saying they were born that way.

[wuapinmon]

to be equally effected (or is it affected?).

affected is correct. You can effect a change, but you are affected by change.

[tooblue]

Am I incorrect in recalling that the wide held notion that these individuals were predominately victims of abuse themselves has been dis-proven in recent years?

Yes, you are incorrect. Furthermore, we are not born one way or another: "This is the triumph of our DNA: it makes us without determining us" In other words any genetic predisposition (which is highly suspect IMO) may only be a part of a larger equation as Jarid in Cedar suggests: "it would be a combination of genetic predisposition, choice, and opportunity."

Sexual abuse is more pervasive in our society than the average person is aware. We've had this discussion here before. I have no interest in defending my position further. If one wants to be better informed they can do their own research into child sexual abuse and the child sex trade, the cycle of abuse and therapies employed to assist abuse survivors and maybe even the study of neural plasticity.

[woot]

I think it's important to understand that anyone who says "I was born this way" is really saying "I didn't choose to be this way." Being a pedophile doesn't make one an expert on genetic vs. epigenetic influence on behavior.

[wuapinmon]

Or, like hetero/homo-sexuality, it could be that they are just born that way. If that's the case, <redacted>, then what do we do?

After reading the Sandusky grand jury report, if people really are born this way, my heart is filled with anger at them, and at God.