The online communication of paedophile beliefs

Paedophilia is classified as a ‘disorder’ and a ‘dissexuality’ within clinical practice and is delegitimated and demonised in social discourse. This research examines the means by which paedophiles seek to redress this delegitimation through the formation and communication of a complex of validatory ideas or ideologies. It is argued, on the basis of research into paedophile Internet writings, that (i) paedophile ideology is instrumentally directed at the displacement of responsibility from paedophiles for the harm of adult-child sexual relations and that (ii) paedophile beliefs function to absolve them of feelings of guilt; to mentally permit adult-child sexual relations and; to undermine the moral objection to paedophilia which inheres in dominant ideologies. These beliefs are communicated through various Internet technologies. The research examines the reasons for paedophiles’ adoption of the technology and how it affects their understanding of themselves and their disorder.1 By contrasting the selfpresented beliefs of paedophiles with popular beliefs which obtain about paedophilia, the research also discerns which social values are protected by the delegitimation and démonisation of paedophilia