Why men molest children

Most child abusers are not only sexually interested in children. Children are often targeted for sexual abuse simply because they are usually more vulnerable than adults. Abusive people find it easier to act on their desires if they have convinced themselves that what they want to do is ok.

All of these things their desires, beliefs and psychological difficulties are influenced by past and present life experiences. So, for example, growing up living with domestic violence could make it more difficult to manage intense emotions, and make it easier to believe that it's ok to control others.

Messages they see or hear in society also play a large part in shaping how abusive people think, and can provide ready excuses. Our culture frequently shows people, especially women and girls, as sex objects, and often sexualizes children, especially teens. Even an outright assault that was sadistic that is, involved them taking pleasure in causing another person pain had much more to do with something going on inside them than anything at all about you.

However, in some extreme cases, a person is confused enough to believe their harmful behaviors are somehow good. They may fiercely deny or blind themselves to the clear negative effects of the behavior. They may even genuinely convince themselves that their actions are loving, and welcomed by children, therefore acceptable. In some cases, people who sexually use or abuse children feel genuine positive feelings toward the child, including caring feelings.

In some cases, the person is extremely immature, terrified of emotional or sexual intimacy with adults and has no idea how to achieve either.

For others, the defenses may become so hardened over time that they are unable to ever acknowledge the devastating truth. Regardless of the reasons, every adult who sexually harms a child needs to be held fully accountable for the harm they caused. A large percentage of all harmful sexual interactions with children are committed by other children or adolescents. Most kids who sexually use or abuse other kids are — at least in part — reacting to physical, sexual or emotional abusive experiences of their own.

Some are too young even to fully comprehend the difference between right and wrong. Toni Cavanagh Johnson. All groups are facilitated by a counselor.

They function just like a chat room: choose an anonymous screen name, enter the group, and start typing. There's no audio or video, and we don't collect any personal information. Add to Gmail Calendar. Add to Outlook Calendar. Why do people sexually use or abuse children? This question always involves strong feelings. Be sure to pace yourself. As you read this page, allow yourself to be aware of any strong emotions. Why Ask Why? Still loving the person who used or abused them, and hoping that understanding why they did it will bring healing to their relationship.

There was a history of sexual and physical abuse in the majority of the families of these children, as well as a history of substance abuse. This population is compared to adolescent perpetrators.

Abstract While the seriousness of sexual abuse by adolescents is finally beginning to receive adequate attention from the professional community, the existence of child perpetrators is largely dismissed and denied.

Effective treatment programs are available to help stop the abusive behavior. No matter what the reason for the abuse, the effects on children may be severe and may last a lifetime.

Why would an adult sexually abuse a child?