Ephebophilia
Ephebophilia is the primary sexual interest in mid-to-late adolescents, generally ages 15 to 19. The term is one of several used to describe age-related sexual preferences, which also include pedophilia (prepubescent children) and hebephilia (early pubescent children). Ephebophilia is distinct from these other terms in that it specifically refers to the attraction to individuals who are in the later stages of adolescence.
Definition and Terminology[edit | edit source]
The term "ephebophilia" is derived from the Greek words "ephebos," meaning "youth" or "adolescent," and "philia," meaning "love" or "friendship." It was first coined by Dutch psychologist Frits Bernard in the 1950s. Unlike pedophilia, which is classified as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), ephebophilia is not considered a mental disorder by most psychological and psychiatric organizations.
Distinction from Other Terms[edit | edit source]
Ephebophilia is often confused with other terms that describe sexual attraction to minors. It is important to distinguish between these terms to understand the specific nature of the attraction:
- Pedophilia: Sexual attraction to prepubescent children, typically under the age of 13.
- Hebephilia: Sexual attraction to early pubescent children, generally ages 11 to 14.
- Teleiophilia: Sexual attraction to adults.
Legal and Social Implications[edit | edit source]
The legal and social implications of ephebophilia vary widely across different cultures and legal systems. In many jurisdictions, the age of consent is set within the range of 15 to 19, meaning that sexual relationships with individuals in this age group may be legally permissible. However, societal attitudes towards such relationships can be complex and often negative, particularly when there is a significant age difference between the partners.
Related Concepts[edit | edit source]
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
This article is a psychology-related stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
