Engaging in sexual activity with a 13-year-old is wrong – no matter how provocative or willing the girl is – but paedophilia varies according to different cultures, according to experts.
“A 13-year-old is a child and the victim, no matter how consensual any sexual activity from her side is,” psychologist Marilyn Clark explained.
A 26-year-old Żebbuġ man was recently charged with child pornography offences after he was duped into believing he was having a Skype conversation of a sexual nature with a 13-year-old.
Christian Coleiro has pleaded not guilty to the charges of attempting to participate in cyber sex with underage children and being in possession of indecent material of minors.
Prof. Clark said the issue remains a very complex domain, dependant on societal constructs. “In the Middle Ages, for instance, it would not be considered a crime. The fictional world of [TV series] Game of Thrones depicts a very different reality.”
The evolving technological landscape has rendered people anonymous, accessible and under the perception that the internet was low risk, Prof. Clark said. In reality, the internet has amplified the risks and challenges and facilitated online sexual encounters.
Due to anonymity, cybersex has become an outlet where unacceptable behaviour is often indulged in. Sexual offence was not just about sex but very often about power.
Clinical psychologist and trainee sexologist Nicholas Briffa agreed that paedophilia was culture bound. Adolescence as a societal construct did not exist among indigenous tribes in Guatemala, he said by way of example.
Psychology defines hebephilia as having a preferential sexual attraction to pubescent children (typically, ages 11–14).
“I have two, very well-educated clients, who get frustrated when they are referred to as paedophiles because they insist that they are not attracted to children under 10 but to adolescents who look groomed, fresh and young-looking,” Dr Briffa explained.
I have two, very well-educated clients, who get frustrated when they are referred to as paedophiles
However, from a therapeutic point of view, paedophilia and hebephilia are treated very similarly, with the emphasis being on restructuring sexual fantasies from a cognitive and behavioural perspective.
Such people’s rapport with adults, Dr Briffa continued, tended to be a very naive one.
“They find it difficult to relate to adults in a mature, healthy manner. Their social skills would be more equivalent to a child, enabling them to feel equal.”
Research also shows that 47 per cent of sex offenders were sexually molested themselves when they were young.
In the eyes of the law, the younger the victim, the more serious the crime. Generally, the psychological effects on the victim are also magnified in younger victims, although different people handle trauma differently.
“Many paedophiles are not happy with their attraction and urges. I had a client tell me he would happily chop off both legs if it meant he would not harbour such fantasies.”
Psychologist Mary Anne Lauri called for an extensive rehabilitation programme which would treat paedophiles.
“These people need help,” she explained.
“They often have a very hard time in prison and suffer a lot. I understand the need to punish them but there must also be some form of effective therapy.”
Sex abuse was also an issue of power, she continued. No matter how willing or provocative a minor was, an adult, mature man should never give in to such taunts and should immediately walk away.
Mark Spiteri, from the Be Smart Online project, explained that parents were often warned of the dangers of posting their children’s pictures online. “Parents often post innocent pictures of their children not wearing any clothes. We ask them to think twice: would they have that picture on a large billboard in the middle of a bypass?
“If the answer is no, then they shouldn’t post it online. And that also applies to teenagers posting pictures of themselves.”