MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Fiona Dyshniku, M.A. Ph.D. Candidate, Clinical Psychology - Adult Clinical track Department of Psychology University of Windsor MedicalResearch: What is the background for this study? Response: This study was conducted in the context of previous research that has found other evidence that pedophilia has biological roots that start before birth, such as shorter stature and left-handedness. Both of these correlates have prenatal origins, meaning that their development necessarily precedes the onset of more socially oriented correlates, such as parenting styles, sexual abuse during childhood, etc. Moreover, these neurodevelopmental correlates appear permanent and immune to later psychosocial influences. Much like handedness and stature, minor physical anomalies (MPA) develop prenatally, are permanent, and remain immune to psychosocial influences. There are additional benefits to examining minor physical anomalies, including the fact that they tend to develop in a set sequence, are actually formed from the same tissue that gives rise to the central nervous system, and have been widely studied in other well-established neurodevelopmental disorders, such as schizophrenia. MedicalResearch: What are the main findings? Response: We found that individuals simultaneously possessing more craniofacial anomalies and fewer peripheral anomalies scored higher on several well-established pedophilia indices, including phallometric testing, possession of child pornography, and number of child victims. We also found that craniofacial anomalies on their own were more prevalent among individuals classified as pedophiles through phallometric testing. Taken together, these results suggest that there is further evidence for a biological cause of pedophilia. Moreover, since craniofacial anomalies develop around week 5 of gestation, it would appear that biological differences occur quite early on during foetal developmental. (more…)