Does the General Population Have Any Sexual Interest in Children?

Overview

How common is sexual attraction to children and what are common experiences across both male and female identifying respondents in the general population?

Summary

Sexual attraction to children is one of the most demonized sexual attractions in our society.  When someone is in the justice system who abuses a child or is known to have this attraction, or a diagnosis of Pedophilic Disorder, they are labeled deviant and assumed to be dangerous to the community.  While pedophilia is a risk factor for re-offending, the truth is, we really don’t know how common it is in the general, non-offending, population.  It’s just not something people talk about.