Internet as Disinhibitor/Validator

Internet as Disinhibitor/Validator

From DSMIV child sexual fantasies as pedophilia** and
the role of the Internet as disinhibitor and validator:

Dr. Fred Berlin, associate professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, states in relation to pedophilia:

...the Internet, [on whether it may bear ] any causal responsibility along the path toward offending. ... it ''provides temptation for some who might not otherwise have crossed the line.''

He added: ''There are three areas of concern.

1) the illusion of anonymity -- an illusion because Internet use can be easily tracked -- leads to disinhibition.

2) there's a blurring of fantasy and reality. There's someone at the other end of the Internet conversation, but it's not quite a real person; there's a feeling of playing a game that can lead to actually doing what one otherwise wouldn't.

3) the easy accessibility can facilitate'' moving over boundaries.

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Dr. Robert Prentky, a forensic psychologist at the graduate school of criminal justice at Northeastern University, when he described the Internet as ''a catalyst for fantasy and dangerous if the control over behavior is markedly impaired.''

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David Burton, professor at University of Michigan School of Social Work in Ann Arbor who explains the link between the fantasy and ideation level of pedophilia to those progress to the next step, acting out the fantasies. He states:

The link between child pornography and child molestation is strong. "Not everyone who reads porn acts out, but everyone who acts out does read child pornography," Burton says.

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The Internet makes it easier for sexual predators to act out, says Ruben Rodriguez, director of the Exploited Children unit of the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "It gets to the point when (porn) is not sufficient. ... Then they get on the Internet and find like-minded individuals who give them a lot of validation."

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David D'Amora, head of the Center for the Treatment of Problem Sexual Behavior, who has about 800 child sexual abusers under his watch in Connecticut, he talked about the Net's abundant porn and disembodied chat-room conversation as a ''disinhibitor.''

**APA DSM-IV-TR criteria for pedophilia are:
A. Over a period of 6 months recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger)
B. The person has acted on these sexual urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies caused marked distress or interpersonal difficulty;
C. The person [pedophile] is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A.

COMMENT:

• [dele…

A most thoughtful and thought-full note on one of the most heinous of crimes against humanity. A few random thoughts: I'm glad you included a note from Fred Berlin, as he is a noted and well-credentialed expert in the field of the treatment of sex offenders. Unfortunately, his work is highly controversial, and his treatment success rate has been called into question. I suppose this illustrates the tenacious nature of the behavior and its resistance to "cure."

I must disagree with Dr. Burton's assessment of the motivations behind pedophilic acts (as opposed to ideations) Dr. Kenneth Lanning (formerly of the FBI), in "Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis" observes that there may be multiple reasons for child abuse of a sexual nature, just as adult rape may have non-sexual origins, and that most perpetrators are not primarily interested in children. In fact, it is estimated that only 2 to 10 percent of child sexual abuse perpetrators meet the regular criteria for pedophilia. (Kinsey-Report, Lautmann, Brongersma, Groth). This is a sobering thought.

There are, in fact, two broad categories of offenders: the pedophilic offender meets the diagnostic criteria for pedophilia and is likely to offend against multiple children due to his or her orientation. Then there is the situational offender, who is more likely to have a target of convenience based on availability: this is the person who is stressed and has an unavailable partner and acts out against their own child or other near family member. Crimes involving situational offenders are far more common than pedophilic offenders. As is the case with homicide, you are much more likely to be attacked by someone you know than a total stranger. Not very encouraging.

To split hairs a bit, in a recent (2002) report before a congressional subcommittee, Michael Heimbach (of the FBI's Crimes Against Children Unit) noted that there is a strong correlation between the collection and use of chlid pornography and child molestation. However, the material cited is usually of a visual, photographic nature and its content gives an indication of the molester's volatility. For example, some people will become aroused by images of naked children, but will be repulsed by images of adults engaged in sexual acts with children. The latter are far more likely to offend.

Moreover, this source and others usually inplicate the Internet in child molestation in two ways: the trolling of chat rooms by molesters who make contact with young people and seduce them into meetings for sexual activities, and the involvement of molestors in internet bulletin boards, F-serves and organized or disorganized chat room and news groups in which they can dialogue with and support other people with the same interests. The language on these cites is explicit and aimed at educating, supporting and rationalizing child exploitation.

I'm aware that you are angered by the existance of the Family room on lit, and it has been my experience from observing this room that very little open dialogue goes on in there. it seems to be a large group of people who conduct their fantasies through PMs, and therefore it falls into a gray area regarding the research available.

As arrest rates do not match the rates of occurance or even reporting of abuse, and the prevalence of pornography is insidious and wide-spread, I think we really must focus our efforts at pervention as well as prosecution: education in the schools and other service groups must make children aware of the behaviors of molesters, their innocense in the occurrance of these behaviors, and how to report occurrance of these behaviors to adults. Since a number of studies show that about 1/3 of the responders admit to having viewed child pornography of some type and/or actively fantasized about sex with an underage child, it's clear that the danger is there.

Thanks for your continuing efforts to shed light on a subject that has been kept too long in the dark. Awareness matters!

Sunday October 29, 2006 - 06:44am (PST) Remove Comment