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Neuropsychology & Law > Problem 5 > Flashcards

Problem 5 Flashcards

1
Q

Is the nature and magnitude of regional brain activation associated with sexual arousal different between pedophilic and non-pedophilic men?

A

No,

All activated brain regions associated with sexual arousal in one group are also found in the other

BUT: the number of significant foci was higher in the pedo group

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2
Q

Pedophilic disorder

A

Refers to a sexual attraction towards children that causes significant distress and impairment by

  1. fantasies and urges
  2. the acting out on behavioral level
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3
Q

Pedophilia

A

Refers to an ongoing sexual attraction toward prepubertal children

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4
Q

Concerning sexual offending against children, there are 2 groups that can be distinguished.

Name them.

A
  1. Those who show no sexual preference disorder but likely due to various impulse control disorders abuse children
  2. Those with pedophilia
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5
Q

Is every man suffering from pedophilia automatically a sexually offender ?

A

No,

Not everyone acts on their urges

–> some restrict their desire to fantasies only

THUS: it is important to differentiate pedophilic disorder and pedophilic sexual preference

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6
Q

Prevalence of pedophilia as a preference disorder

A

Approx. 1%

–> but when general fantasies are investigated it can reach up to 3-5% in the male population

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7
Q

Does pedophilia exist in women?

A

Currently there is no reliable estimate of pedophilia in women

–> one cannot be sure if it even exists in women

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8
Q

Methods for diagnosing pedophilia

A
  1. Clinical exploration
  2. Five tanner stages
  3. Penile Plethysmography
  4. Viewing time paradigm
  5. Pictorial stroop task
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9
Q

Clinical exploration

A

Assessing the content of sexual fantasies during masturbation - reveals:

  1. gender preferences
  2. body scheme age of the “partner”
  3. favored practices

–> here one can assess the sexual preference structure in detail

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10
Q

Five Tanner stages

A

Refers to a method for diagnosing pedophilia in which the body scheme age preference can be assessed

–> the process of physiological maturing is described here by focusing on the development of the secondary sex characteristics from 1 (prepubescent) to 5 (adult)

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11
Q

Penile plethysmography/Phallometry

(PPG)

A

Measures genital sexual arousal through sexual stimuli and is based on the relative change in penile response

–> most well-known objective method of measuring pedophilic interest

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12
Q

Circumferential method

(PPG)

A

Measures intra-individual changes in penile girth through a wire band fitted around the base of the penis in response to differing classes of sexual stimuli

–> one PPG method

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13
Q

Volumetric method (PPG)

A

Uses a glass tube fitted around the penis to measure calibrated air output as a result of erection

–> sensitive to small changes, so when assessing partial or non-admitters do not stand a chance

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14
Q

Viewing time paradigm

A

Measures the length of time a participant spends looking at specific images

–> one will look significantly longer at sexually arousing stimuli, thus it can be used as a sexual preference indicator

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15
Q

Pictorial stroop task

A

Involves

1. presenting words or images to participants that may be sexually salient

2. stimuli are presented in one of 4 colors which participants must identify as quickly as possible

3. consistent delay in responding to certain categories of stimuli is hypothesized to be a product of the salience of those stimuli to the individual

–> thus implicit sexual associations that exert their effects automatically are measured

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16
Q

Comorbid disorders with pedophilia

A

1. Mood + anxiety disorders

2. Substance abuse history

3. Personality disorders

–> OCD, antisocial, narcissistic, avoidant

17
Q

Name the general neuropsychological dysfunctions in pedophilic AND non-pedophilic child molesters.

A

1. Lower IQ

–> lower levels of academic achievement

2. Lower job capacity

3. Higher frequency of left-handedness

18
Q

Name the cognitive deficits shown and noticed only in pedophilic child molesters.

A

Deficits with

  1. Verbal + spatial WM
  2. Emotion recognition + empathy
  3. Attention
  4. Executive function
19
Q

Etiology/Neurodevelopment of pedophilia

A
  1. Masturbatory conditioning
  2. Childhood sexual abuse
  3. Frontal lobe theory
  4. Temporal lobe theory
20
Q

Frontal lobe theory

A

Suggests that there are noticeable structural + functional differences seen in the Orbitofrontal + left and right DLPFC of pedophilic men

–> since OFC is responsible for behavioral control + inhibiting sexual behavior, dysfunction may explain pedophilia

21
Q

Dual lobe theory

A

Suggests that both frontal + temporal disturbances are responsible for the range of behaviors seen in pedophilia

–> e.g. diminished impulse control (PFC), hyper sexuality (TL)

22
Q

Temporal-Limbic theory

A

Suggests that functional + structural differences in the temporal lobes leads to misattributed emotional salience and valence toward children

–> results in an increase in pedophilic behaviors

23
Q

Where does sexual differentiation and development of sexual preference stem from ?

A

An interplay between the impact of sex chromosomes on gene expression + sex hormones

24
Q

Teleiophilia

A

Refers to a minors or adults sexual attraction to mature adults

25
Q

Hebephilia

A

Refers to a strong, persistent sexual interest by adults in pubescent children who are in early adolescence

–> typically ages 11–14

26
Q

Pedophilic men with a history of sexual offending show a trend for increased left handedness.

Where does this result from?

A

A lack of prenatal testosterone exposure

27
Q

Heritability, epigenetic and life events influencing the development of pedophilia.

A

1. Stressful events during childhood

–> e.g. child sexual abuse

2. Number of head injuries before age 13

3. Lower IQ + shorter stature

4. Weak heritability though

THUS: epigenetics have a great influence on pedophilia

28
Q

How does a neurotransmitter dysbalance, influence the development of pedophilia?

A

There may be an increased sex drive due to

  1. low serotonergic inhibition
  2. high dopaminergic excitation
29
Q

Functional brain alterations influencing the development of pedophilia.

A

1. Dysfunction of the PFC

–> disinhibition

2. Dysfunction of the Temporal cortex

–> sexual preoccupation/hypersexual

30
Q

Structural brain alterations influencing the development of pedophilia.

A
  1. Volume reduction of the amygdala + hypothalamus
  2. Gray matter reduction
31
Q

Exclusive vs non-exclusive type of pedophilia

A

Only children vs Children + adults

32
Q

Is it possible to use brain scans to figure out if you’re a pedophile ?

A

fMRI works quite well to differentiate between pedophiles and non-pedophiles

–> but unsure if this works with other machines too, also they were admitting pedophiles

33
Q

Why are antidepressants increasingly used to treat pedophilia?

A

Because, depressed people reported a loss of sex drive due to them

–> SSRIs enhance the serotonin levels in an individual

34
Q

Treatment options for pedophilia?

A

Options are really low

  1. CBT only works in 1/5 people
  2. SSRI
  3. Testosterone lowering medication

–> a lot of side effects

Neuropsychology & Law (6 decks)

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