4. Questions & Hypotheses

4. Questions Posed and Hypotheses

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Questions posed and related hypotheses will be presented according to their importance.

	Primary questions posed, are designated by PQ,
	secondary ones [questions] by SQ.

The presentation of results in answer to questions posed as well as hypotheses is done in chronological order; the discussion of the results, however, is not. It is in the discussion of the results that their ascribed weight is considered.

	First, the five primary questions posed are discussed in connection with the three secondary questions.
	A methodological critique of the results then ensues, in order to point out the limitations of the study.
	A summary as well as final conclusions and recommendations complete the results presentation.

1.0 (SQ)

What conceptions exist among the research participants

	with regard to their own personhood,
	with regard to that of the beloved child, and
	with regard to the causes of their sexuality?

2.0 (SQ)

How might the content of the general sexual characteristics of -- and selected influence factors from the sexual spheres of -- pedophilic men be sketched out: "sexual socialization experiences", "nature of pedosexual contacts", "use of erotic and pornographic images of children"?

2.1

Pedophi1ic men who as children were approached sexually by adults do not differ from research participants without such experiences, with regard to the existence of pedosexual contacts.

2.2

Pedophilic men who have not had any actual pedosexual experiences differ from research participants who have had sexual contacts with chi1dren in terms their use of erotic and pornographic material.

3.0 (PQ)

What striking features exist among pedophilic men with regard to selected self-concept characteristics, feelings of being under stress, and senses of well-being on a general level?

3.1

Pedophilic men show, on the MSSCQ scale, a significantly more "negative" sexual self-concept than participants from the heterosexual control group.

3.2

On the Self-Image of Functional social Potency Scale (SSP), pedophilic men do not differ from participants from the heterosexual control group.

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4.0 (PQ)

What sub-groups of pedophilic men vis-à-vis sexual self-concept (MSSCQ) are identifiable, and how do they differ in terms of demography, self-concept characteristics, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well--being?

5.0 (PQ)

What striking features among pedophilic men exist with regard to selected self-concept characteristics, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well-being on a differential level?

5.1

Homosexual pedophile, heterosexual pedophile, and bisexual pedophile participants do not differ in terms of self-concept characteristics, feeling of being under stress, and sense of well-being.

5.2

Research participates differ, based on the characteristic "age-group", with regard to self-concept characteristics, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well-being.

5.3

Research participates di ffer, based on the characteristic "occupational status", with regard to self-image of functional social potency, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well-being.

5.4

Participants with previous criminal convictions differ from those without criminal convictions in terms of self-concept characteristics, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well-being.

5.5

Research participants differ, based on the expression of the characteristic "therapy experience", with regard to self-concept characteristics, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well-being.

5.6

Research participants differ, based on the characteristic "existence of social support", with regard to self-image of functiona1 social potency, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well-being.

5.7

Participants with no pedosexual experience at all, those who had such experiences in the past, and those with ongoing experiences differ with regard to self-concept characteristics, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well-being.

5.8

Participants who use child pornography differ from those who do not in terms of sexual self-concept, feelings of being under stress, and sense of well-being.

5.9

Participants who as children were approached sexually by adults, show greater feelings of being under stress and a poorer sense of well-being than participants without such experiences.

6.0

What correlative relationships exist between selected self-concept characteristics and the central variables of feelings of being under stress and sense of well-being?

6.1

There is a positive relationship between the characteristics of "positive sexual self-concept" and "mental health".

6.2

There is a negative relationship between the characteristics of "positive sexual self-concept" and the "global severity index".

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6.3

There is a positive relationship between the self-image of functional social potency scale and "mental health".

6.4

There is a negative relationship between the self-image of functional social potency scale a "global severity index".

6.5

There is a statistically significant relationship between "mental health" and the "global severity index".

7.0 (PQ)

How do pedophi1ic men with above-average and average scores on the "mental health" scale differ from pedophi 1ic men with below-average scores on this scale with regard to the weighting ascribed to selected life-spheres and potential (sexual) conflict-areas?

7.1

There are significant differences among participants with regard to the weight ascribed to individual life-spheres.

7.2

There are significant differences among participant with regard to the weight ascribed to potential (sexual) conflict-areas.

8.0 (SQ)

	What attempts have the research participants made to pursue different kinds of (sexual) life-courses,
	what forms of social support have those affected found helpful, and
	what goals would those questioned wish to pursue with the aid of psychotherapy / counseling?