Determinants of Punitive Attitudes Toward People with Pedophilia: Dissecting Effects of the Label and Intentionality Ascriptions

Abstract

Recent research has established marked punitive attitudes against people sexually interested in children. These negative attitudes are even more pronounced when such sexual interest is labeled as pedophilia, but are attenuated to the extent that such sexual interest is perceived as beyond one’s own control (unintentional). We explored these effects in more detail by separately manipulating the label (pedophiles vs. people with sexual interest in prepubescent children) and degree of intentionality (pedophilia or sexual desire as malleable vs. not malleable). Participants recruited via an online platform (N = 423) were randomly assigned to the experimental conditions and asked to rate degree of intentionality, dangerousness, deviance, and punitive attitudes toward people sexually interested in children. As expected, participants expressed stronger punitive attitudes when the label was present. The manipulation of intentionality, however, was not successful. Further analyses explored whether participants found the notion that sexual interest cannot be altered at will more credible than the opposite, particularly in presence of the pedophilia label. The results are discussed with regard to the significance of and potential intervention against the markedly strong public stigma against people with pedophilia.

Appendix

Introduction

In this study, we are interested in your view of sexual minorities.

Please read the following information carefully, as you will be asked about some of the details later.

Pedophilia Label, Low Intentionality

As you might know, there is a long-lasting debate about the choice individuals have over the objects of their sexual desire. This is particularly relevant for socially unaccepted sexual objects like prepubescent children in the case of pedophiles. Despite all controversies, researchers have reached a growing consensus over the past years that pedophilia is something that individuals cannot control at all.

Although this may not be true for every individual in any situation, most individuals can just not make a conscious decision to change their deviant impulses. It is thus impossible for them to intentionally acquire a socially more acceptable sexual interest instead, not even with the support of therapeutical training.

Before asking you about your view on pedophilia, it is important for us to know to what extent you are or were aware of the above-mentioned facts.

Pedophilia Label, High Intentionality

As you might know, there is a long-lasting debate about the choice individuals have over the objects of their sexual desire. This is particularly relevant for socially unaccepted sexual objects like prepubescent children in the case of pedophiles. Despite all controversies, researchers have reached a growing consensus over the past years that pedophilia is something that individuals can control to a certain degree.

Although this may not be true for every individual in any situation, most individuals can make a conscious decision at some point in their life to either submit to their deviant impulses or actively acquire a socially more acceptable sexual interest by therapeutical training.

Before asking you about your view on pedophilia, it is important for us to know to what extent you are or were aware of the above-mentioned facts.

No Label, Low Intentionality

As you might know, there is a long-lasting debate about the choice individuals have over the objects of their sexual desire. This is particularly relevant for socially unaccepted sexual objects like prepubescent children. Despite all controversies, researchers have reached a growing consensus over the past years that sexual interest in prepubescent children is something that individuals cannot control at all.

Although this may not be true for every individual in any situation, most individuals can just not make a conscious decision to change their deviant impulses. It is thus impossible for them to intentionally acquire a socially more acceptable sexual interest instead, not even with the support of therapeutical training.

Before asking you about your view on sexual interest in prepubescent children, it is important for us to know to what extent you are or were aware of the above-mentioned facts.

No Label, High Intentionality

As you might know, there is a long-lasting debate about the choice individuals have over the objects of their sexual desire. This is particularly relevant for socially unaccepted sexual objects like prepubescent children. Despite all controversies, researchers have reached a growing consensus over the past years that sexual interest in prepubescent children is something that individuals can control to a certain degree.

Although this may not be true for every individual in any situation, most individuals can make a conscious decision at some point in their life to submit to their deviant impulses or actively acquire a socially more acceptable sexual interest by therapeutical training.

Before asking you about your view on sexual interest in prepubescent children, it is important for us to know to what extent you are or were aware of the above-mentioned facts.