Research Article: Hebephilia: Quintessence of Diagnostic Pretextuality Karen Franklin (2010), Behavioral Sciences and the Law (online first edition). Abstract: Hebephilia is an archaic term used to describe adult sexual attraction to adolescents. Prior to the advent of contemporary sexually violent predator laws, the term was not found in any dictionary or formal diagnostic system. Overnight, it is on the fast track toward recognition as a psychiatric condition meriting inclusion in the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This article traces the sudden emergence and popularity of hebephilia to pressure from the legal arena and, specifically, to the legal mandate of a serious mental abnormality for civil commitment of sex offenders. Hebephilia is proposed as a quintessential example of pretextuality, in which special interests promote a pseudoscientific construct that furthers an implicit, instrumental goal. Inherent problems with the construct's reliability and validity are discussed. A warning is issued about unintended consequences if hebephilia or its relative, pedohebephilia, make their way into the DSM-5, due out in 2013.

The Public Policy Implications of “Hebephilia”: A Response to Blanchard et al. Karen Franklin (2009), Archives of Sexual Behavior 38 (3), 319-320. [DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9425-y] Author contact: web [at] KarenFranklin.com

Why the Rush to Create Dubious New Sexual Disorders? [Letter to the Editor] Karen Franklin (2010), Archives of Sexual Behavior [DOI: 10.1007/s10508-010-9616-1]

Sexual Preference for 14-Year-Olds as a Mental Disorder: You Can’t Be Serious!! [Letter to the Editor] Richard Green (2010), Archives of Sexual Behavior [DOI 10.1007/s10508-010-9602-7]           Author contact:  richard.green@ic.ac.uk

Adult Sexual Attraction to Early-Stage Adolescents: Phallometry Doesn’t Equal Pathology Thomas K. Zander (2009), Archives of Sexual Behavior 38 (3), 329-330. [DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9428-8] Author contact: DrTomZander@aol.com

Are There “Hebephiles” Among Us? A Response to Blanchard et al. Joseph J. Plaud (2009), Archives of Sexual Behavior 38 (3), 326-327.  [DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9423-0] Author contact: plaud@fdrheritage.org

Manufacturing Mental Disorder by Pathologizing Erotic Age Orientation: A Comment on Blanchard et al. Philip Tromovitch (2009), Archives of Sexual Behavior 38 (3), 328.  [DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9426-x] Author contact: tromovitch.las@tmd.ac.jp

Should Hebephilia be a Mental Disorder? A Reply to Blanchard et al. Gregory DeClue (2009), Archives of Sexual Behavior 38 (3), 317-318. [DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9422-1] Author contact: gregdeclue@mailmt.com

When Is an Unusual Sexual Interest a Mental Disorder? Charles Moser (2009), Archives of Sexual Behavior 38 (3), 323-325. [DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9436-8] Author contact: Docx2@ix.netcom.com

Hebephilia plethysmographica: A partial rejoinder to Blanchard et al. (2008). Janssen, D.F. (2009).  Archives of Sexual Behavior,  38, 321-322. Author contact: diederikjanssen@gmail.com

Pedophilia, Hebephilia, and the DSM-V Ray Blanchard, Amy D. Lykins, Diane Wherrett, Michael E. Kuban, James M. Cantor, Thomas Blak, Robert Dickey and Philip E. Klassen (2009), Archives of Sexual Behavior 38 (3), 335-350. [DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9399-9] Author contact: ray_blanchard@camh.net

Reply to Letters Regarding Pedophilia, Hebephilia, and the DSM-V Ray Blanchard (2009), Archives of Sexual Behavior 38 (3), 331-334. [DOI 10.1007/s10508-008-9427-9] Author contact: ray_blanchard@camh.net

The Fertility of Hebephiles and the Adaptationist Argument against Including Hebephilia in DSM-5 [Letter to the Editor] Ray Blanchard (In Press), Archives of Sexual Behavior [DOI 10.1007/s10508-010-9610-7]  (full letter also available HERE) Blanchard's reply to Franklin (2009)

A Critique of the Proposed DSM-V Diagnosis of Pedophilia [Letter to the Editor] William O'Donohue (2010), Archives of Sexual Behavior [DOI 10.1007/s10508-010-9604-5]           Author contact: wto@unr.edu

Please note that the above links provide only a "preview" of each article. The full articles may be requested from the primary authors, by emailing them at the addresses provided on the first page of each article.

More on hebephilia:

Invasion of the hebephile hunters: Or, the story of how an archaic word got a new lease on life (blog post)

---

*The inconsistency in style (DSM-V versus DSM-5) owes to a midstream change in nomenclature. All previous editions of the DSM employed Roman numerals, but the American Psychiatric Association announced in March 2010 that it will convert to Arabic numbers starting with the fifth edition.