No classic profile of the pedophile offender has been identified, other than that most pedophiles are heterosexual males and are known to the victim (Murray, 2000; Salter et al., 2003). Child molesters cover the spectrum of social class, educational achievement, intelligence, occupation, religion, and ethnicity. Evidence suggests that many pedophile offenders, especially those who are prosecuted, are shy, lonely, poorly informed about sexuality, and moralistic or religious (Bauman et al., 1984; Hall & Hall, 2007).
Many are likely to have poor interpersonal and sexual relations with other adults and may feel socially inadequate and inferior (Dreznick, 2003; Minor & Dwyer, 1997). However, it is not uncommon to encounter pedophiles outside the legal system who are well educated, socially adept, civic-minded, and financially successful (Baur, 1995). They often pick their victims from among family friends, neighbors, or acquaintances (Murray, 2000). Relating to these children sexually may be a way of coping with powerful feelings of inadequacy that are likely to emerge in sociosexual relationships with other adults.
Other characteristics of some child molesters include alcoholism, severe marital problems, sexual difficulties, poor emotional adjustment, and various brain disorders (McKibben et al., 1994; Mendez & Shapira, 2011). Many of these offenders were sexually victimized themselves during their own childhood (Bouvier, 2003; Seto & Lalumiere, 2010).
Like pedophiles, perpetrators of incest are primarily males who cannot be easily identified or categorized by a classic profile. Rather, "they are a complex, heterogeneous group of individuals who look like everyone else" (Scheela & Stern, 1994, p. 91). However, the incest offender does tend to share some of the traits of many pedophiles. He tends to be economically disadvantaged, a heavy drinker, unemployed, devoutly religious, and emotionally immature (Rosenberg, 1988; Valliant et al., 2000). His behavior might result from general tendencies toward pedophilia, severe feelings of inadequacy in adult sexual relations, or rejection by a hostile spouse; his actions can also be an accompaniment to alcoholism or other psychological disturbances (Lee et al., 2002; Rosenberg, 1988). He also tends to have certain distorted ideas about adult-child sex. For example, he may think that a child who does not resist him desires sexual contact, that adult-child sex is an effective way for children to learn about sex, that a father’s relationship with his daughter is enhanced by having sexual contact with her, and that a child does not report such contact because she enjoys it (Abel et al., 1984).