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One purpose of the DSM

Posted by d on Friday, November 14 2008 at 03:53:46AM
In reply to Healthline's article on pedophilia--feedback? posted by Iron Marxist on Wednesday, November 12 2008 at 11:26:45AM

One purpose of the DSM is to give standardized diagnoses so those seeking treatment can get it rather than being labeled malingerers.

Personally, I think the existing "sexual disorders" should be scrapped from the DSM and replaced with several broad categories:

  • Sexual identity stress disorders where a person's sexual identity causes him sufficient stress that he seeks professional help to deal with his identity, including rejection of him by others because of that identity (e.g. Mormons or Catholics rejected by family members due to homosexuality, etc.)
  • Sexual empathy disorders where a person's sexual behavior causes another person stress or harm (as perceived by that person) but the person inflicting the stress just doesn't see that it's stressful. This can be everything from sexual harassment in the workplace to rape.
  • Sexual control disorders for rapists on one extreme to spouses who use sex or the denial of sex as a weapon in a relationship to a degree that's unhealthy on the mild extreme.

    Where would pedophiles fit in?

  • Some would fit in the 1st category, but many would not rise to that level of stress.
  • Some would fit in the 2nd category, but most would not. "Wishful thinkers" that assume "oh, she must like sex" then have sex with their children, without bothering to determine of their kids really want sex or not, probably fit in this category. Most who fall into this category are not pedophiles.
  • Non-pedophile child abusers typically fall into the 3rd category, as do control freaks who misunderstand the concept of BDSM.

    With this replacement, those who sought therapy or those who were forced into it would have a valid diagnosis and a valid billing code for the insurance companies. The details should be left in the doctor's notes where they belong.

    Notice that paraphilias that do not involve another human or animal would typically no longer be considered mental illnesses under any circumstance. Nor would consensual sex with any creature (so far only humans, and maybe dolphins and mice :) ) sentient enough to say "yes" or "no" and give a reasonably sophisticated reason why they said "yes" or "no," except possibly under category #1.

    d





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