The Role of Sociocultural and Family Factors in the Formation of Pedophilia

The paper examines the role of sociocultural and familial factors in the development of pedophilia as one of the most prevalent and socially dangerous disorders of sexual preference. The relevance of the study is determined by the increasing number of officially registered sexual offenses against minors in Russia, the high latency rate associated with this category of offenses, and the need to improve preventive measures consistent with the constitutional priority of protecting childhood. The study is grounded in a biopsychosocial paradigm integrating the principles of imprinting theory, the concept of psychological infantilism, and theories of social determination. Particular attention is devoted to the dysfunctional family system as the primary agent of socialization. The paper analyzes such factors as impaired emotional attachment, blurred personal boundaries, the absence of constructive parental role models, and, most importantly, the individual’s own experience of victimization during childhood. The authors further examine the influence of the broader macrosocial context, including patriarchal attitudes, the sexualization of childhood in the media, and the role of deviant communities in rationalizing and reinforcing pathological attractions. The study emphasizes the mutually reinforcing interaction between microand macro-level factors within the dynamic process underlying the formation of the disorder, thereby rejecting any reductionist explanation based on a single causal foundation. The authors give practical recommendations aimed at the early identification of atrisk groups, the development of preventive programs, and the provision of psychotherapeutic assistance focused on interrupting the intergenerational transmission of trauma. The paper also identifies promising directions for future empirical research.

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