A pedophile is a person who has sexual desires for a child, usually age thirteen or younger. The usual standard is that a pedophile must be at least age sixteen and at least five years older than the child involved. Pedophiles may have sexual fantasies, sexual urges, or sexual behaviors involving children. Most pedophiles begin having fantasies long before they actually act on them. This is the best time for pedophiles to seek treatment.
Most pedophiles have a particular gender and a particular age group that they are attracted to.
Most pedophiles who are attracted to girls, prefer girls ages eight to ten. Most pedophiles attracted to boys prefer boys over age ten. Pedophiles who are attracted to boys, even if they are heterosexual, are the most difficult to treat. Some sexual abusers are actually people with antisocial personality disorder, sexual sadism, or other conditions who will force themselves sexually on anyone weaker. While their abuse may involve children of any age or gender as well as adults, they are not true pedophiles.