Public is confused

by child molesting

Dear Dr. Menninger:

I missed your earlier article on child molesting. Is child molesting what is known as pederasty? And why does a grown person choose a child as a sex object? Small children aren't sexy.

Are these sick people with an immature sexual development who can't cope in an adult world of sex? Is it done by all age groups or mostly older people? Can they be helped medically?

Do the children going along with them and giving them their kind of attention and "love" feed their egos and cause their behavior? Or what does?

How can parents know if this is happening to their child and what to watch for? And why will children go along with this without telling?

I know of one youngster who did so with a much older man, and her parents seemed unconcerned. Yet it was obvious to everyone else.

The child was hanging on to this one person all the time and bragged about what she got from him in attention, time, money and gifts. She even played hookey from school to be with him, until it was reported. Then her parents were upset and shocked.

What steps should be taken if *someone knows this is happening? I recently read of a women's group which was working to have the Inames of people caught at this published in the newspaper. Would this help to prevent it? Or would it -cause the involved to be more · devious and sneaky in their acts? Mrs. G. M.

Dear Mrs. M.:

"All the recent publicity of the Miami election on "rights" of homosexuals and the battle cry of

:

Dr.

Walt

Menninger

"Save Our Children" have added to the confusion in people's minds about child molestation.

Child molestation is the term generally applied to an adult involving a young child or adolescent in sexual activity. Most commonly, the relationship is heterosexual, although it can involve an adult and child of the same sex.

Pederasty refers more specifically to sexual activity of a man with a boy. While this sexual activity is between members of the same sex, it should not be confused -as the Save Our Children group would imply as being a practice of the vast majority of persons who have a homosexual orientation.

Rather, most persons who identify themselves as being homosexual are interested in sexual relations only with adult members of the same sex. They are just as repulsed by and criticial of sexual activity with a child as you and L

Most of the sensational news accounts about children and sex tell of exploitation and violence. However, the greatest incidence of child molestation goes unreported and occurs in the home, as a form of incest between father and daughter or mother and son.

There is no easy course of action if you become aware of a child who is being exploited sexually. However, you should contact juvenile authorities in your area and alert them to your concerns.