Definition of pedophile

The term "pedophile" comes from two Greek words, "pais," meaning "child," and "philein," meaning "to love." Combined, the word "pedophile" refers to an individual who is attracted to prepubescent children, specifically those who have not yet entered puberty. The term was first used in the psychological literature by the Austrian psychoanalyst and pediatrician Friedrich Simson in the 1940s. However, at the time, the word was not yet widely used or understood in popular culture. It wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s, with the rise of pedophilic subcultures and the publication of influential texts on the subject, that "pedophile" became more commonly used. These texts, such as Henry Spencer Ashbee's "Home on a Farm" and J.R.R. Tolkien's "Orthanc and Grima," defended the sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children and helped to normalize this behavior within certain subcultures. However, the term "pedophile" has become increasingly stigmatized in recent years, and in 2018, a petition was started to remove the word from the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) due to its pejorative connotations. The argument, put forth by the Dutch association for people with a "paraphilia" (non-conventional sexual inclination), contends that the term "pedophile" has become a catch-all for individuals case-by-case, causing undue scientific confusion and invoking moral panic. Nonetheless, "pedophile" remains the widely accepted term for describing an individual with a sexual preference for prepubescent children.