Are Some People Sexual Predators At Birth?
***TRIGGER WARNING ***
Mentions sexual predation and victimization of children
Have you ever wondered if people who are sexual predators were born that way? Were they made by their environment or by genetic changes to their brains?
This article will explore these questions but do not think you will find satisfaction from learning such knowledge because it will focus on the latest information that is not proven science.
The purpose of this paper was not to give excuses for what sexual predators do. It is written to help you see that you were not to blame for what happened to you. Yes, there are theories that support the notion that no, sexual predators aren’t born evil and no they are not the victims when they offend, you when you were innocent were.
What Does a Sexual Predator Look Like?
I’m sure most people visiting my blog who have dissociative identity disorder have had a sexual predators wreak havoc on our lives. Too often, these people who use children to feel powerful and to satisfy some sick need go unnoticed in our society until they are caught. Many are not.
Do you think you would recognize a predator by their looks or attitudes and behaviors? Think again. Sexual predators are very good at hiding their crimes by appearing as the perfect neighbor, pastor, or priest, to name a few.
They may also appear to have healthy children who are also hiding behind a shield of normalcy. Behind closed doors is a different story where one of the adults in the house is abusing the children or maybe one child.
They are from all demographics and sexes. They are black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight, you name it sexual predators are found in any group you can think of. The people we trust the most misuse that trust to harm children.
Signs of a Sexual Predator
While these people hide their crimes, there are some signs to look for when your child has a close relationship with another adult. Here are three examples of what to watch for in a predator. There are more, and I shall try to cover what is needed for this piece.
Sexual predators have a particular interest in children and usually have an age range they prefer. They may choose children in grade school, middle school, or high school who are lonely and looking for affection. You might observe the predator and the child engaging inappropriately such as showing interest in physical play with a child such as wrestling, kissing, hugging, or tickling.
Sexual predators manipulate their victims by showing destroy and do not mind the personal boundaries of their victim. What looks like innocent touches escalates to inappropriate touches that may start with the leg and turn into touching the child’s genitals or breasts, fondling the child without their consent.
Before rape is performed, the predator must first introduce and make normal the ideas of sex to the young one. They may show them pornography, tell sexual jokes, or encourage them to lay together naked. The predator usually use the child’s innocence against them, telling the child it is a game or using intimidation such as threats against the child’s pets or family.
Now to the Question: Are Pedophiles Born to Offend?
Because the topic of the etiology of pedophiles is so complex, there are several theories that work together to attempt to understand what makes pedophiles tick. We shall endeavor to list a few.
The Biological Theories center on learning if there is something physical that causes an adult to abuse children. Although some experiments have been performed, so far there has been no proof found to connect physical changes to sexual offenders.
With improved methodologies, future work performed to explore this question may yield beneficial and important information that can explain the origins of sexual predation.
The Evolutionary Theories have been put out there attempting to explain many sexual behaviors such as aggression. The theory states that human behavior is the result of evolutionary adaptations that are there to meet ongoing challenges in the predators environment.
Many theories rely on postulates about sexual selection and sexual strategies. One of these says that sexual coercion is a conditional strategy. They say in this idea that sexual predation is only a strategy to safeguard reproduction.
Obviously, it is often unethical to test the validity of the above evolutionary theories. Although perhaps forever unproven, these theories offer a unique perspective offering that sexual offending is a behavior that is or was adaptive to environmental or interpersonal events.
Personality Theories suggest that early childhood relationships involving mistreatment and trauma can lead a child to turn inside negative attitudes and beliefs about their relationships with others and themselves. This internalization alter how the child perceives sex, such as their role in sexual relationships.
Social Learning Theories examine how being a victim of sexual violence may influence future victimizing of others. Sex offenders have increased rates of sexual abuse in their pt than would be expected in the general public, but the reality is that a majority of perpetrators were not abused as children (Putnam 2003).
Nevertheless, many predators do report a history of sexual abuse (Freund & Kuban, 1994). This aspect has been focused upon in male victims in questioning how they perceive their abuse and its effects later in their lives. The focus of the research is on aspects of abusive experiences had by the victims influence in how they affect their learning.
Cognitive (thinking) Theories. Cognitive theories look at the way sexual perpetrators’ thoughts affect how they behave. There is much documentation supporting that perpetrators justify their actions to keep their feelings of guilt and shame at bay. The perpetrator might use excuses or justifications for their behavior. Excuses and rationalizations are known as cognitive distortions or more commonly known as thinking errors. Using these tactics the perpetrator shields themselves from responsibility, guilt, and shame for what they are doing to their victim.
Cognitive errors used by perpetrators are denial, minimization of what they have done, claiming the right to their behavior, and blaming their victims (Marshall, Anderson & Fernandez, 1999).
The literature supports the thought that offenders have low self-esteem and this allows them to blame everyone but the victim. Remember, sexual predators are not looking for sex, they are looking for a feeling of power over their victims. That is why they often choose children.
There are many more theories, but for the sake of length, I have named only a few in the myriad of theories.
No, sexual offenders are not born that way, their environment mixed with other things made them. However, sexual offenders are totally responsible for their actions and thoughts no matter how much they may protest that fact.
Ending Our Time Together
I myself am a victim of several sexual predators who treated me like their own personal sexual toy they could abuse. I was too frightened to turn them into the authorities because, well, I was a kid.
After entering therapy, I went through a rather long haul of, first blaming myself for what happened and extreme anger at my abusers. Don’t get me wrong, I am still infuriated by how they changed my life for the worse.
There came a day when I didn’t want to feel angry anymore. No, I did not forgive my perpetrators, I just walked away from those emotions because I no longer needed them. I know what happened, I’ve grieved enough, it is time to move on.
My hope is that someday you will decide to walk away from your abusers and stop allowing them free rent in your head. Then, you will leave your identity as victim behind.
References
Faupel, S. (2015). Etiology of adult sexual offending. Sex offender management assessment and planning initiative research brief.
Freund, K., & Kuban, M. (1994). The basis of the abused abuser theory of pedophilia: A further elaboration on an earlier study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 23, 553–563.
Marshall, W.L., Anderson, D., & Fernandez, Y.M. (1999). Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Sex Offenders. Chichester, England: Wiley.
Putnam, F.W. (2003). Ten year research updates review: Child sexual abuse. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42, 269–278.
Faupel, S.M.S.W., and Przybylski, R. Chapter 2: Etiology of Adult Sexual Offending. Retrieved from: https://smart.ojp.gov/somapi/chapter-2-etiology-adult-sexual-offending#note
By letting go of my victim status I am a survivor. I can see my sexuality as mine to experience and share with whom I choose in a loving, consenting relationship.
this was really insightful and interesting, thanks for putting this together, it was eye opening!Comment
Thank you very much.