What are the benefits of pedophilia?

Question

Does pedophilia serve some purpose, or did it? Be creative. I want to hear some interesting hypotheses. Is it just a sexual kink, or does it have evolutionary benefits? Perhaps, when sexuality wasn't taboo, it provided a way for young people to be introduced to s*x (now it just makes them feel unclean and violated and usually represses sexuality). Or maybe men being drawn to younger females ensures a better chance of reproduction due to their increased fertility compared to older females. Or maybe there are other things altogether.

(Sorry for the repost, but I had it in the wrong category the first time.)

Answer 1

"...An experience with an adult may seem merely a curious and pointless game, or it may be a hideous trauma leaving lifelong psychic scars. In many cases the reaction of parents and society determines the child's interpretation of the event. What would have been a trivial and soon-forgotten act becomes traumatic if the mother cries, the father rages, and the police interrogate the child."

I recall reading the preceding passage by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. Although it dealt with the incest taboo, I’m inclined to believe it may also apply to pedophilia; and, we all know, both these practices still occur in many parts of the world as accepted culture; and in other parts, as discrete, private perversions.

It is important to realize there is no uniform legal definition of Pedophilia! Regardless, I believe we need to differentiate between the “stereotypical” pedophile, viz. a habitual freak whose sexual fantasies primary revolve around children (– whether he/she is a passive “fantasizer” or an active predator), or whether he/she at some point in life experienced a rare, isolated incident of attraction to someone with a major age difference. “Been there. Done that. Move onward!”

Now, by “children” I mean pre-preadolescents, adolescents, “young adults”, and all such dependents, which have not as yet been legally emancipated or developed the capacity of living independently. I believe this broader definition of “children” is valid since, as long as they are dependent, their right to form an informed, responsible decision especially with regard to emotional/sexual relationships, which could have lasting consequences, is (or should be) limited and, in any case monitored by those responsible for their development.

Finally, adolescents of all cultures and religious denominations are enjoined in Holy Matrimony with each other or (much) older suitors all over the world including Europe and the USA. The Age of Consent in some parts of the US is 14!And these couples exclusively do not exhibit any of the ‘typical symptoms’ associated with victims of child sexual abuse that our learned psychology pundits wish for us to believe is attributed to pedophilia. Mary was 12 or 13 when she had Jesus. Charles V married a 9 yo girl. The Late Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 yo first cousin which caused brouhaha with the self-righteous press! And they really didn’t give a rat’s a*s whether or not it was OK in our books.

Just my 2 bits ...