Are all sexual abusers of pre-pubescent children paedophiles?
No. Specialists generally make a distinction between two types of individual: Those who sexually abuse young children without feeling a real sexual attraction to them. Here the term paedophile should not be applied, but that of child sexual abuser. These are amoral individuals who commit all kinds of criminal acts or offences against property and persons (of whatever age). Those who sexually abuse children out of a desire to have the fullest possible range of sexual experience also fall into this category. In the second case, the individuals have a real sexual preference for pre-pubescent children. These are true paedophiles. Among these individuals, the perverse dimension is more present. Within this category, a distinction may be made between those who idealize the children and win their affection, showing them great attentiveness and sensitivity, and those who more generally resort to force and violence to press themselves upon their victims. 14. Can a person be a paedophile without
