Introduction

This section presents research that addresses popular beliefs about men who are attracted to minors and about adult-minor sexual interaction.

• Pedophiles and ephebophiles are child molesters.
• They are violent and have a desire for power.
• They were sexually abused as children.
• They are always adults.
• They are psychosexually immature or fear adult relationships.
• They are socially inadequate and have low intelligence.
• They are psychopathic or neurotic.
• Child sexual abuse can be diagnosed by certain symptoms.
• Sex with adults always severely harms children and adolescents.
• The proportion of sexually abused children is known to be large.