Understanding romantic attraction to children through exploration of its patterns, components, and correlates

Emerging research suggests that most adults who are sexually attracted to children also experience romantic attraction to children. This anonymous online survey study investigated patterns, components, and correlates of romantic attraction to children in 317 self-identified child-attracted men. All respondents reported sexual attraction to children, and nearly all (95%) reported romantic attraction to children. Both forms of attraction were rated as highly intense, although sexual attraction was slightly more intense. The two forms of attraction were generally aligned in terms of age, gender, and exclusivity of attraction. Respondents reported experiencing all three components of Sternberg’s Triangular Love Scale—intimacy, passion, and commitment—toward a child, with intimacy being the strongest. Upon examining correlates of intensity of romantic attraction to children, strength of sexual attraction to children relative to adults (i.e., exclusivity) was the strongest unique correlate, followed by emotional congruence with children and the personality factor of openness. Age- and gender-of-attraction did not play a role. Additionally, the intensity of romantic attraction to children was not associated with psychological difficulties or history of arrest or conviction for a child sexual offence. The results of this study support a broadened understanding of attraction to children, involving sexual and romantic forms that are similarly widespread and largely aligned. Future research directions elucidating implications for child-attracted people’s well-being and offence risk are proposed.