What id like to know is are there places these potential sex offenders can go to seek therapy without the threat of imprisonment or being put on a list? I'd like to think we could probably prevent a lot more offending if it was treated as a real mental issue and people encouraged to seek help instead of waiting until after another poor kid gets their life ruined before there's any chance at tackling the problem.
this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2026
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Honestly, if someone could show me proof that this stopped predators from acting on their deranged fantasies with actual children, I'd be all for making these legal.
However, and I know nothing about the psychology of this, but it'd likely have the opposite effect.
Not a psychologist, nor have I done research on CSAM, but have been in a team doing addiction research from another discipline.
An orgasm is a biological reward for behaviour, and if that behaviour involves representations of children then they are being rewarded for sexualising child-thing, which would probably reinforce the behaviour or increase its value when real children are encountered. There is little to no evidence supporting what's called the thermodynamic model of addiction (Ie. "pressure release") and long term behaviours tend expand rather than being relieved with repetition.
Additionally it would be very hard (albeit possible in some way I assume) to do any ethical research on this to get the answers you are after.
Thanks for the information. Based on studies and articles I've come across, paraphilias such as paedophilia, sadism, and many others tend to behave like addictions; allowing oneself to indulge increases the likelihood of needing that “fix” again. Overall, normalising sexual interactions with child-like dolls seems like a bad idea, especially since paedophilic urges should never be acted upon to reduce offending against children.
I think the default position should be that we need proof that it causes harm before making it illegal.
I don't think it's right to make criminals out of people who aren't hurting others.
i believe it's quite an accepted pattern of human nature that what we dream/ fantasize/ aspire to do, we would want to do and carry it out in the real-world. hence these child-sex-dolls are dangerous for kids in the society.
That's the type of rhetoric they used against video games, rap music, and D&D.
No.
That's actually quite dangerous wording that has very visible roots in purity politicking and censorship. Fantasy by its very nature is disconnected from action in a healthy human psyche.
I am being very clear that i am not advocating any form of csam, but the subject to hand is being used to permit entry of a very broad accusation here.
i believe it's quite an accepted pattern of human nature that what we dream/ fantasize/ aspire to do, we would want to do and carry it out in the real-world.
The evidence suggests that the use of sex toys reduces the drive to actuate those desires
hence these child-sex-dolls are dangerous for kids in the society.
You haven't proven this, just asserted it poorly.
That's why they want to research this more. It's so necessary.
Not every person who possesses or imports a child-like sex doll will go on to become sexually abusive. Current research does not establish a simple causal pathway.
In fact, some scholars found doll owners showed lower arousal to abuse scenarios and lower sexual aggression proclivity than those who didn’t own a doll.
Other studies similarly found doll use was linked to reduced deviant and compulsive sexual behaviour.
I'm finding the above misleading, because the 'studies' linked seems to be about 'adult' sxx toys, not child like sxx toys.
I believe it's quite obvious that there is No positive outcome of those wanting/ owning/ using child like sxx toys. For the sake of the community, they belong behind bars!
Mixed feelings with this one.
Offenders belong behind bars—so far, so clear. But what do we do with people who haven’t committed any crimes so far? Do we temporarily lock them up for life because of their sexual orientation? That seems to me to be a very dangerous path, both because it drives these people into hiding and because we know where the persecution of sexual orientations has led—and, with fascism on the rise worldwide, where it will lead.
The most effective way to protect children and actually prevent crimes would be to give these people the opportunity to come out and work out ways to live with their orientation (which, like all other sexual orientations, they did not choose) without becoming offenders. However, I doubt that we as a society are ready for that… your comment on this platform itself reinforces my skepticism.
Some people who have sexual thoughts about children and are worried about it can get support if they don't want to carry out sexually damaging behaviours towards children, e.g. https://bravehearts.org.au/get-help/for-those-concerned-about-their-thoughts/
There also are people who do not want to get support and want to continue activities which exploit children.
I don't know if it is agreed by medical and psychological experts that paedophilia is an orientation or not. Some people who have these desires, etc, were abused themselves as children and so there is trauma-based acting out. Other people do not respond this way. The whole situation is complex but the safety of children must be the first consideration.
I don't know if it is agreed by medical and psychological experts that paedophilia is an orientation or not. Some people who have these desires, etc, were abused themselves as children and so there is trauma-based acting out. Other people do not respond this way. The whole situation is complex but the safety of children must be the first consideration.
The general work for this is the DSM5, which lays out pedophilic disorder on page 697-701, where it is classified as a paraphilia and a disorder, classified alongside other conditions that involve some sort of bypassing of normal consent processes (ie paraphilias involving objects or extreme violence, etc)
Thank you for this information.
the safety of children must be the first consideration.
spot on!
Some people who have these desires, etc, were abused themselves as children and so there is trauma-based acting out.
That's right—it's probably not black and white again, but rather a spectrum of causes that can lead to this behavior. Especially when it comes to trauma-driven actions, there may be a chance to achieve something through treatment or therapy... provided that those affected are willing to come forward and cooperate.
I don't know if it is agreed by medical and psychological experts that paedophilia is an orientation or not.
I don't know either... but given that, not too long ago, homosexuality and other sexual orientations were still viewed either as illnesses requiring treatment and/or as conscious choices and therefore punishable by law, I'm cautious about making a moral judgment on sexual orientation itself for now.
The whole situation is complex but the safety of children must be the first consideration.
Absolutely!
The difference (ringing bells) between this and other sexual orientations like homosexuality is that those are focused on other adults and people can make their own decisions (under normal circumstances where people are free to choose). Sexual desire towards children means that adults focus on children who do not have the maturity to make a decision about their involvement nor the means to protect themselves if they are assaulted or abused against their will in some way.
I can imagine that people using child-like sex dolls would also indulge in child pornography and this in itself is child abuse and horrific for the children who have been exploited.
Sexual desire towards children means that adults focus on children who do not have the maturity to make a decision about their involvement nor the means to protect themselves if they are assaulted or abused against their will in some way.
Absolutely, which is why living out this orientation cannot and must not be up for debate.
But if I assume that our goal as a society is the protection of children, there are only two options for individuals with this orientation (since, as I said, sexual orientations do not appear to be either illnesses or conscious choices... otherwise, 2,000 years of violent persecution would surely have ensured that everything non-heteronormative would have been eradicated by now, to put it bluntly):
The individual can either try to suppress the urge (which probably works more or less well in the case of monks… but as a layperson, I estimate the risk of relapse over a lifetime to be very high when living as part of everyday society) or suitable outlets or coping mechanisms must be found to avoid acting on this inclination.
The latter seems to me to be the more sensible approach, since it (again, in my opinion as a layperson, though I believe this can also be psychologically substantiated) carries a lower risk of relapse. The latter is made significantly easier if the affected individual can seek professional help… which becomes less likely when the topic is treated as taboo and stigmatized.
As I point out elsewhere on this thread, there is help available if people want it and it can start anonymously, e.g. see https://bravehearts.org.au/
Even calling LIfeline, people can get information on what services are available. Professional help IS AVAILABLE. The more adults realise this the more they can find their own healing and the more children will be spared.
Hi there. Are we saying that adults who has sexual orientation towards children is "normal" or "born that way, they cant choose to be otherwise"?
If we posed this as would it make you consider a different opinion?
Are we saying that adults who has sexual orientation towards the opposite sex is “normal” or “born that way, they cant choose to be otherwise”?
Are we saying that adults who has sexual orientation towards animals is “normal” or “born that way, they cant choose to be otherwise”?
Are we saying that adults who has sexual orientation towards the elderly is “normal” or “born that way, they cant choose to be otherwise”?
This is not a comparison, defense or an endorsement. Its just a matter saying we accept some arguments vrs others. Call it a condition/wrong, a affliction the word is irreverent, it exists and it needs to be studied and treat. How can something be removed as a threat if we know nothing about it.
Do we temporarily lock them up for life because of their sexual orientation?
Yes and throw away the fucking key.
Ahh, yes. because that certainly results in less harm. Guess what sex offenders are more likely do to kids if they think they are going to jail forever anyway and don't want any evidence?? The anger is understandable but unhelpful If we really care methodically about keeping kids safe.
the 'studies' linked seems to be about 'adult' sxx toys, not child like sxx toys.
Why do you suspect child like sex dolls don't influence interest in sexual abuse fantasies?
there is No positive outcome of those wanting/ owning/ using child like sxx toys.
Except there is a positive outcome, and its the one that depends on whether child like sex dolls reduce interest in sexual abuse, or not.
It is not obvious your perspective is right, and I think you've got it backwards.
i believe it’s quite an accepted pattern of human nature that what we dream/ fantasize/ aspire to do, we would want to do and carry it out in the real-world. hence these child-sex-dolls are dangerous for kids in the society.
Wtf