Here are the official criteria for a diagnosis for paedophilia:

Note: All three criteria must be met for a diagnosis of paedophilia

a) Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger).

b) The person has acted on these urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.

c) The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A.

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This means the following:

*Criterion A:*

People who meet this criterion have frequent sexual fantasies about pre-pubescent children which are arousing, and/OR frequently engage in sexual activity with pre-pubescent children.

The common situational offender (responsible for most acts of child molestation), who often doesn't offend frequently, is therefore not a paedophile, but is someone who harms children. A person can be diagnosed with paedophilia *without* having sex with children.

*Criterion B:*

The person must have acted on their urges, but sexual activity *without* the involvement of a child is sufficient for the criterion to be met; sex with an actual child is not required in order to meet this criterion.

If the person does not engage in any sexual activity, either personal (masturbation) or with the involvement of a child, the fantasies must cause marked distress or social difficulties in order to meet this criterion. This does not include distress or social difficulties caused by society's hatred of paedophilia.

Someone who masturbates to fantasies described in Criterion A is a paedophile if they also meet the Criteria A and C, even if they do not have sex with children or violate the law.

*Criterion C:*

The person must be at least 16 years old and must be sexually attracted to pre-pubescent children at least 5 years younger.

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It is a common misconception that paedophilia is a synonym for child molestation