2008 Woodie Awards
Weird Science
Brett Sowerby
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Style
New research has made a link between pedophilia and faulty connections in the brain.
The Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) published their findings in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. CAMH used MRIs to compare a group of known pedophiles to a control group. What they found through their analysis was that the group of pedophiles had significant differences in brain connectivity. They found that the group of pedophiles, overall, had much less of the substance "white matter." This white matter seems to be responsible for wiring the different sections of the brain together.
This study challenges the popularly held belief that pedophilia was a result of childhood trauma or abuse. This study is the strongest, to date, to hint that pedophilia is actually a result of problems regarding brain development. Most of the research in this area has also been conducted by CAMH.
Among other findings that CAMH published, the group of pedophiles was found to have many other differences from the control group as well.
CAMH has conducted other studies that found other characteristic differences between pedophiles and control groups. They found that pedophiles, in general, have lower IQs, are three-times more likely to be left-handed and are physically shorter than non-pedophiles.
Although this research hints at a pre-disposition to pedophilia, there is still a conscious choice that accompanies molesting a child. "There is nothing in this research that says pedophiles shouldn't be held criminally responsible for their actions," said Dr. James Cantor, a researcher at CAMH. "Not being able to choose your sexual interests doesn't mean you can't choose what you do."
This shows the responsibility that goes along with this kind of research. Although it may go a long way in preventing the formation of future pedophiles, it doesn't seem a large leap to jump to a defense that "my actions were unavoidable, I was pre-disposed to molest children." CAMH should be acknowledged for their efforts to quell that argument before it can be truly formed in the courts.
The Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) published their findings in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. CAMH used MRIs to compare a group of known pedophiles to a control group. What they found through their analysis was that the group of pedophiles had significant differences in brain connectivity. They found that the group of pedophiles, overall, had much less of the substance "white matter." This white matter seems to be responsible for wiring the different sections of the brain together.
This study challenges the popularly held belief that pedophilia was a result of childhood trauma or abuse. This study is the strongest, to date, to hint that pedophilia is actually a result of problems regarding brain development. Most of the research in this area has also been conducted by CAMH.
Among other findings that CAMH published, the group of pedophiles was found to have many other differences from the control group as well.
CAMH has conducted other studies that found other characteristic differences between pedophiles and control groups. They found that pedophiles, in general, have lower IQs, are three-times more likely to be left-handed and are physically shorter than non-pedophiles.
Although this research hints at a pre-disposition to pedophilia, there is still a conscious choice that accompanies molesting a child. "There is nothing in this research that says pedophiles shouldn't be held criminally responsible for their actions," said Dr. James Cantor, a researcher at CAMH. "Not being able to choose your sexual interests doesn't mean you can't choose what you do."
This shows the responsibility that goes along with this kind of research. Although it may go a long way in preventing the formation of future pedophiles, it doesn't seem a large leap to jump to a defense that "my actions were unavoidable, I was pre-disposed to molest children." CAMH should be acknowledged for their efforts to quell that argument before it can be truly formed in the courts.
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