#part2

Pedophilia may be distinguished from hebephilia (sexual preference for individuals who typically are between ages 11 and 14) and ephebophilia (sexual preference for late-stage adolescents, typically ages 15 and 16). In many countries an individual who is convicted in a court of law of child sexual abuse (see child abuse), which involves sexual abuse of a prepubescent or postpubescent individual up to age 18, is known as a sex offender; some of those individuals are also later clinically diagnosed with pedophilia.

Some pedophiles are sexually attracted only to children, whereas others are attracted to both children and adults. Pedophiles may be attracted to children of only one sex or to children of either sex. Sexual encounters between individuals with pedophilic disorder and children are frequently traumatic for the latter, especially if force or violence, or the threat of force or violence, is involved. Most pedophiles are men; the condition is rare in women.