Brief Answer:
Pedophilia is possible at age of 12
Detailed Answer:
HI
Pedophiles are people erotically attracted to children younger than the age of
puberty. The age isn't important, the only limit here is the development of the sexuality, so we can say from puberty up. The problem is, that if someone is attracted to older children, you can't really say if he is a pedophile because young people are normally attracted to people around their age. 12 years old attracted to 10 years old, is he or she a pedophile? That's a problem. I think mostly such people grow up and find to be attracted to adults. Sometimes they grow up and find they are still attracted to 10 years old. That's why the diagnostic criteria of pedophilia usually set some minimal age for the diagnosis, for example 16 years. However when someone 12 years old is only interested in children for example aged 4 - 8, it's quite clear he or she is a pedophile. Next, pedophiles are defined by who they are attracted to, not by their acts. Someone who inappropriately touches a child doesn't have to be a pedophile and someone who does not might be a pedophile.
During adolescent or adult, number of people get attracted towards kids of younger age, but it also depends upon sexual orientation. If you say, sexually you are attracted towards opposite sex and still sometime, you get sexual thoughts for kids, in that case, it may be your underline liking towards kids and desire to do something with them. Though, you are hiding all these by doing
masturbation and controlling your thoughts, that good, but if you want to kick it out of your life, then talk to opposite sex as much as possible. You can also take help of a
psychologist.
In case, you need further help, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
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