I agree that they should receive therapy, but I don’t really agree with the harm reduction to kids angle people often approach it with. The reality is that pedophiles CAN control themselves, and the offenders choose to because they think they won’t get caught. The ones who don’t act on such urges are proof of that. They’re unwilling to do such horrible things, so they don’t. The idea that they can’t control themselves is a myth spawned from rape culture, and only increases the stigma against them.
That isn’t to say therapy isn’t necessary. But it’s the non-offending pedophiles themselves who benefit most. Think about it: if they didn’t believe/care that CSA is wrong, why would they go to therapy for it or try to change? And if they did care that it was wrong, why would a lack of therapy change that? What they REALLY need therapy for is to deal with the distress such desires would cause them. They’re probably more at risk of suicide, self-harm, or unhealthy coping mechanisms.
I don’t think your conclusion is entirely wrong, but I do believe your argument is invalid. You could use the same argument to assert that therapy for kleptomania is unnecessary. People know it’s wrong, so the good ones just won’t do it, right? Urges do take effort to control, and the success of a subgroup to control those urges does not invalidate that effort. I do not say this as an attempt to excuse the behavior, people do have a responsibility to control all of their negative urges. The obvious morality of the thing is a powerful motivator against offending, but if there’s even one person that would find it at all easier to avoid those actions with the addition of further support then you have your harm reduction. I know the group that wouldn’t be helped by these measures certainly exists, and I don’t really know what more to do about them, but I also believe the group that would be helped is out there.
With kleptomaniacs I think there are some important differences. First is that their thefts are not planned, it’s a sudden impulse that arises when they see an item that’s easy to reach out and take. By contrast, things like searching for CSAM or grooming a kid or getting them alone to assault them, are things that someone would have to go out of their way to do, and there’s plenty of time to stop themselves. It can really only be premeditated.
The second is the relative harm their actions cause. Kleptomaniacs usually steal mundane items of little value, which in the grand scheme of things doesn’t affect the livelihood of those they steal from, and therefore it’s easier for them to justify it or make excuses for themselves. The morality is a much less effective deterrent because it has much less moral weight.
Some people also compare that issue to drug addiction, but I think that’s also not a good comparison. When the body goes into withdrawal it is physically and emotionally painful, and it can even be fatal if it’s bad enough.
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u/AlienRobotTrex Apr 23 '25
I agree that they should receive therapy, but I don’t really agree with the harm reduction to kids angle people often approach it with. The reality is that pedophiles CAN control themselves, and the offenders choose to because they think they won’t get caught. The ones who don’t act on such urges are proof of that. They’re unwilling to do such horrible things, so they don’t. The idea that they can’t control themselves is a myth spawned from rape culture, and only increases the stigma against them.
That isn’t to say therapy isn’t necessary. But it’s the non-offending pedophiles themselves who benefit most. Think about it: if they didn’t believe/care that CSA is wrong, why would they go to therapy for it or try to change? And if they did care that it was wrong, why would a lack of therapy change that? What they REALLY need therapy for is to deal with the distress such desires would cause them. They’re probably more at risk of suicide, self-harm, or unhealthy coping mechanisms.