Do Minor Attracted Persons Make Your Skin Crawl?
What are Minor Attracted Persons (MAPs)? Let’s talk about the things that make us uncomfortable and learn in the process.
There were many research presentations this year at the ATSA conference relating to MAPs.
This was great to see! From a scientific perspective, we just don’t know much about the MAP community. Therefore, we don’t know about their needs or how to help those who seek it.
What are Minor Attracted Persons?
Very few people are aware of the term. MAP is the acronym for a Minor Attracted Persons.
As a therapist I need to be specific, although the media tends to lump everyone into a single category.
- Pedophilia – the name for the attraction to prepubescent children (typically 12 and under). We use this for diagnosis, DSM-V, and research purposes.
- Hebephilia – the name for the attraction to pubescent children (not pre- or post- pubescent; typically 13-17 year olds). Again, we tend to use this term for diagnosis, not in the DSM-V, and research purposes.
- MAP – Minor Attracted Persons. A non-diagnostic umbrella term for a person who is attracted to children. There is no specific age nor pubertal status associated with this label.
The Minor Attracted Persons Debate
There are some people who do not like the Minor Attracted Persons (MAP) moniker.
I have heard these arguments from people in both research and supervision. The argument loosely goes like this:
“The MAP label is not descriptive enough.”
“It lumps all minors together and does not distinguish between prepubescent, pubescent, and post-pubescent attraction.”
I understand these arguments when it comes to research. There is not enough scientific research in the community looking at any type of attraction to minors.
To lump pedophilia and hebephilia together for research purposes assumes that there are no differences between people who have these attractions.
While this may be the case, due to lack of research, we just don’t know. It is better to look at these groups separately until we can definitively say they are similar enough to put in the same research subject category.
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Treatment Providers
I am neither a MAP, nor a researcher. I am a treatment provider.
If someone has engaged in sexual offenses, it’s imperative to know their arousal template. It allows us to help them manage unwanted or illegal behavior.
However, I will argue, once we’ve made the diagnosis, we no longer need to continue to use the pedophile language, particularly with our clients.
Why do we need a different term?
I am going to make an assumption, based on my work with clients, that the main reason to use the term Minor Attracted Persons is due to shame and stigma.
The general public, fueled by sensationalist media, equate pedophile with child molester.
There is an assumption made that someone who is attracted to children either has or will eventually sexually offend with a child.
Bluntly, this is not true. Attraction is not a behavior.
While pedophilia and sexual offending are related, they are not synonymous. The label of pedophile is stigmatizing. There is no way around that truth.
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Shame, Stigma, and Minor Attracted Persons
I recently learned of the work of Braithwaite (1989) and how this researcher classified shame.
Braithwaite argued that there were two types of shame, reintegrative and disintegrative:
“Reintegrative shaming is temporary, used to communicate censure to an individual, but ultimately aimed at correcting a person’s behavior and, for offenders, reintegrating them back into the community. Disintegrative shaming is a more permanent and reoccurring shame, resulting in a master status that encourages stigmatization and breaks the bond between the person and the community (Bailey & Klein, 2018)”
I learned of this work when researching the effects of the sex offender registry on the people who have to register.
Reducing Shame as Primary Prevention
In the public’s eyes attraction to children equals child molesting. Therefore, those who are attracted to children get put in this category without ever hurting anyone.
If they come forward for treatment or talk about their attraction to family or friends they can face the disintegrative shame that encourages stigmatization.
Research Relating to Minor Attracted Persons
Levenson and Grady (2019) recently published work where they spoke to MAPs about their experiences. Specifically, this study looked at people seeking help for their attraction.
The subjects of this study reported that they often felt isolated and alone with their feelings.
They also experienced feelings of shame, fear and expected to be misunderstood by people, including therapists.
Particularly distressing was finding that therapists wanted to “cure” the minor attraction. However, the client wanted to work on concerns such as depression or loneliness and not specifically their minor attraction.
Learn more about Primary Prevention and its benefits in these articles:
Back to the Beginning: Why Terminology Matters
From a person centered, trauma informed perspective, we should be using appropriate terms rather than potentially increasing shame and isolation.
From a public education standpoint, I would like to see the term de-coupled from people who sexually offend against children.
Misuse of the term pedophile is one of my soap boxes. I will forever argue about semantics and how the word is used. I’m tired of the media misusing the word and equating it to child sexual abuse.
I challenge you to think about these issues for yourself:
Can you accept that some people are attracted to children?
Can you accept that it’s not a choice?
Will you decry the assumption that every person who is attracted to children is going to offend?
To end, I will leave you with something heard more than frequently in graduate school.
Correlation is not causation.
References: Bailey, D.J.S. & Klein, J.L. (2018). Ashamed and Alone: Comparing offender and family member experiences with the sex offender registry. Criminal Justice Review, 43(4), 440-457. Braithwaite, J. (1989). Crime, Shame and Reintegration. Cambridge, England, Cambridge University. Levinson, J.S. & Grady, M.D. (2019). Preventing sexual abuse: Perspectives of Minor Attracted Persons About Seeking Help. Sexual Abuse, 31(8), 991-1013.
Are you looking for more reputable data-backed information on sexual addiction? The Mitigation Aide Research Archive is an excellent source for executive summaries of research studies.
Have you found yourself in legal trouble due to your sexual behavior? Seek assistance before the court mandates it, with Sexual Addiction Treatment Services.
Do you feel your sexual behavior, or that of someone you love, is out of control? Consult with a professional.
