A pedophile is a person who has sexual desires for a child. Pedophiles 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 age group that they are attracted to.
Pedophiles who are attracted to girls, often prefer girls ages 8 to 10. Most pedophiles attracted to boys prefer boys over age 10. While all pedophiles are difficult to treat, pedophiles who are attracted to boys 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, their primary diagnosis may not be pedophilia.