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Feelings of attraction

Most studies of the sexual feelings of minor-attracted adults have been limited to physiological measurements of genital arousal among sex offenders. They have found that many child molesters are more aroused by "consenting" stimuli involving children than by "non-consenting" stimuli involving children.18

However, a few British studies have closely examined the thoughts and feelings of minor-attracted men outside of criminal or clinical settings.

One of them is the study of 77 men mentioned earlier.

The researchers concluded that except for the object of their attraction, these men were similar to men attracted to women in terms of their fantasies and the traits they found attractive.19

A similar study by clinical psychologist at the University of Cambridge involved interviews with 27 male volunteers who had had some type of sexual contact with underage boys or girls.

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18. Hall, 1996.

19. Wilson & Cox, 1983.

20. Li, 1990b.