It is difficult to present a classic personality pattern for pedophilia because of the various subgroups that exist (53). Some individuals who have pedophilia are able to present themselves as psychologically normal during examination or superficial encounters, even though they have severe underlying personality disorders (6, 46, 54). Studies have shown that people with pedophilia generally experience feelings of inferiority, isolation or loneliness, low self-esteem, internal dysphoria, and emotional immaturity. They have difficulty with mature age-appropriate interpersonal interactions, particularly because of their reduced assertiveness, elevated levels of passive-aggressivity, and increased anger or hostility (5, 23, 27, 28, 55—63). These traits lead to difficulty dealing with painful affect, which results in the excessive use of the major defense mechanisms of intellectualization, denial, cognitive distortion (eg, manipulation of fact), and rationalization (6, 24, 46, 53, 56, 62). Even though pedophiles often have difficulty with interpersonal relationships, 50% or more will marry at some point in their lives (15, 32, 53, 55, 56, 61, 64).
It is common for people who are diagnosed as having pedophilia to also experience another major psychiatric disorder (affective illness in 60%—80%, anxiety disorder in 50%—60%) and/or a diagnosable personality disorder (70%—80%) at some time in their life (7, 12, 63). An estimated 43% of pedophiles have cluster C personality disorders, 33% have cluster B personality disorders, and 18% have cluster A personality disorders (23, 31, 53, 55) (Table 3). A study by Curnoe and Langevin (65), using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory with pedophiles and other "deviant fantasizers" (n = 186), showed significantly increased scores on the infrequency scale, the psychopathic deviance scale, the masculinity-femininity scale, the paranoia scale, and the schizophrenia scale. These results suggest that pedophiles are more socially alienated and less emotionally stable than most other people, traits commonly seen in patients with cluster A and B personality disorders (65). Many pedophiles also demonstrate narcissistic, sociopathic, and antisocial personality traits. They lack remorse and an understanding of the harm their actions cause (23, 53).
