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Pedophilia may be the result of faulty brain wiring
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health ^ | 11-28-07 | Michael Torres

Posted on 11/28/2007 7:11:40 AM PST by Pharmboy

MRIs link pedophilia to problems in brain development For Immediate Release – November 28, 2007 (TORONTO) – Pedophilia might be the result of faulty connections in the brain, according to new research released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The study used MRIs and a sophisticated computer analysis technique to compare a group of pedophiles with a group of non-sexual criminals. The pedophiles had significantly less of a substance called “white matter” which is responsible for wiring the different parts of the brain together.

The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatry Research, challenges the commonly held belief that pedophilia is brought on by childhood trauma or abuse. This finding is the strongest evidence yet that pedophilia is instead the result of a problem in brain development.

Previous research from this team has strongly hinted that the key to understanding pedophilia might be in how the brain develops. Pedophiles have lower IQs, are three times more likely to be left-handed, and even tend to be physically shorter than non-pedophiles.

“There is nothing in this research that says pedophiles shouldn’t be held criminally responsible for their actions,” said Dr. James Cantor, CAMH Psychologist and lead scientist of the study, “Not being able to choose your sexual interests doesn’t mean you can’t choose what you do.”

This discovery suggests that much more research attention should be paid to how the brain governs sexual interests. Such information could potentially yield strategies for preventing the development of pedophilia.

A total of 127 men participated in the study; approximately equal numbers of pedophiles and non-sexual offenders.

The Kurt Freund Laboratory at CAMH was established in 1968 and remains one of the world’s foremost centres for the research and diagnosis of pedophilia and other sexual disorders.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: brains; genes; moralabsolutes; paraphilias; perversion
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Not a surprise to me...I know I have raised the ire of several Freepers when I have also said that I believed homosexuality is wired in.

If sexual perversion were truly a choice, why would anyone choose it??

1 posted on 11/28/2007 7:11:42 AM PST by Pharmboy
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To: Pharmboy
I’m sure that we could then fix this with the proper application of drugs and electroshock therapy.

[/half sarc]

2 posted on 11/28/2007 7:13:05 AM PST by taxcontrol
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To: taxcontrol

Lethal injection or the electric chair.

Can’t have both ;)


3 posted on 11/28/2007 7:14:45 AM PST by SJSAMPLE
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To: taxcontrol

You know how when the TV is on the fritz, you smack it on the side to fix it? Same principle, only you smack it harder.


4 posted on 11/28/2007 7:14:50 AM PST by gridlock (Recycling is the new Religion.)
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To: Pharmboy
If sexual perversion were truly a choice, why would anyone choose it??

Because it is pleasurable.

Most people enjoy power.

Most people also enjoy sex.

Pedophilia is a way for people who generally have little of either to fulfill their fantasies for sex and power.

One might as well ask why criminals choose to steal from people or assault people.

People choose to do evil things because these evil things satisfy their appetites in the quickest way.

5 posted on 11/28/2007 7:16:24 AM PST by wideawake (Why is it that so many self-proclaimed "Constitutionalists" know so little about the Constitution?)
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To: taxcontrol
I find rewiring easy with a .45 200grn HP in the brain pan traveling about 850fps.
6 posted on 11/28/2007 7:16:53 AM PST by chuckles
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To: Pharmboy
“There is nothing in this research that says pedophiles shouldn’t be held criminally responsible for their actions,” said Dr. James Cantor, CAMH Psychologist and lead scientist of the study, “Not being able to choose your sexual interests doesn’t mean you can’t choose what you do.”

Intolerance! < /s>

7 posted on 11/28/2007 7:17:04 AM PST by Slings and Arrows ("Bush is destroying the solar system:The ice caps on Mars are shrinking too." --Right_Wing_Madman)
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To: Pharmboy

Yet more “evidence” for the “it’s not my fault therefore I’m not responsible” crowd....


8 posted on 11/28/2007 7:17:30 AM PST by KenHorse (I have the heart of a Liberal. I keep it in a jar on my desk.)
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To: Pharmboy

“If sexual perversion were truly a choice, why would anyone choose it??”

Therein lies the real moral discussion.

- If all sexual behavior is hard-wired, and gays and lesbians are “born this way”, then is pedophilia hard-wired as well? What about philanderers?

- And, if being “born this way” makes it a civil rights issue, then wouldn’t that same argument apply to pedophiles, philanderers, etc? To be moral, one must be a “free moral agent” (free to choose options), and “born this way” indicates that we are not free moral agents, right?

- Finally, if we can “cure” hard-wired pedophiles, can we then “cure” gays and lesbians? Or for that matter, make hetro people in bisexual beings so they can have a better chance at sexual pleasure?


9 posted on 11/28/2007 7:20:16 AM PST by TWohlford
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To: Pharmboy
...said Dr. James Cantor, CAMH Psychologist and lead scientist of the study, “Not being able to choose your sexual interests doesn’t mean you can’t choose what you do.”

Exactly. Chosen behavior is separate from what one feels urges or desires to do.

10 posted on 11/28/2007 7:20:36 AM PST by Sloth (Democrats and GOPers are to government what Jeffrey Dahmer and Michael Jackson are to babysitting)
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To: Pharmboy

“If sexual perversion were truly a choice, why would anyone choose it??”

lonely, lust, boredom, angry, weak minded

IMO, it may be wired but the wiring is self installed.


11 posted on 11/28/2007 7:24:01 AM PST by driftdiver
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To: Pharmboy

Does this mean that pedophiles will be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act?


12 posted on 11/28/2007 7:24:12 AM PST by jalisco555 ("The only thing we learn from history is that we never learn from history." Winston Churchill)
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To: taxcontrol
I’m sure that we could then fix this with the proper application of drugs and electroshock therapy.

No, since the problem is with the brain, the problem could be completely solved by surgical removal of the brain.

13 posted on 11/28/2007 7:24:20 AM PST by PAR35
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To: chuckles
The pedophiles had significantly less of a substance called “white matter” which is responsible for wiring the different parts of the brain together.

I find rewiring easy with a .45 200grn HP in the brain pan traveling about 850fps.

Oh! You are replacing the missing "White Matter" with "Copper-clad Matter"!

That'll work fine.

14 posted on 11/28/2007 7:25:16 AM PST by Gorzaloon
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To: Pharmboy
If sexual perversion were truly a choice, why would anyone choose it??

Because they like it?

15 posted on 11/28/2007 7:25:49 AM PST by Frapster (Arrrgghhh - hands off me booty, mate!)
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To: Pharmboy
The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatry Research, challenges the commonly held belief that pedophilia is brought on by childhood trauma or abuse. This finding is the strongest evidence yet that pedophilia is instead the result of a problem in brain development.

It's probably both. Environmental effects can change brain structure, so they need to be able to rule that out.

Pedophiles have lower IQs, are three times more likely to be left-handed, and even tend to be physically shorter than non-pedophiles.

Caveat: The subset of pedophiles that get caught have these tendencies.

Journalists do get carried away.

16 posted on 11/28/2007 7:25:49 AM PST by ahayes ("Impenetrability! That's what I say!")
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: SJSAMPLE

Lethal injection or the electric chair.

Can’t have both ;)

why not? use your imagination.


18 posted on 11/28/2007 7:28:06 AM PST by tired1 (responsibility without authority is slavery!)
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To: Pharmboy

Sin is inherited, just like genetic diseases. I am sure homosexuality and pedophilia are no exception.


19 posted on 11/28/2007 7:28:36 AM PST by the lastbestlady (I now believe that we have two lives; the life we learn with and the life we live with after that.)
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To: TWohlford
Perfect. I can add nothing to that post, save that if we develop a cure for the urge does that make the crime worse? As in, if a pedophile chooses to rape children, while knowing that a treatment could blunt or eliminate the danger he (or she) poses to children is that somehow worse?

OTOH how does this affect punishment?

I think we pretty much all agree that a pedophile represents an ongoing danger. Therefore we are inclined to want long/life sentences. Does this change to some prison time, with release conditional on treatment?

20 posted on 11/28/2007 7:30:24 AM PST by null and void (No more Bushes/No more Clintons)
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