Child Sex Offenders: Classifications of Child Molesters

With much media focus aimed at the sting operations and capture of sex offenders and child molesters, parents are becoming savvier in the process of child endangerment in terms of sex crimes. For many parents, the term "child molester" usually conjures up a vivid image of what you anticipate the stereotypical molester to be.

However, in many cases the child molester does not fit a typical stereotype. In fact, statistics show that child molesters come from all walks of life; male or female, of any sexual orientation, of any marital status and even any race or socioeconomic status. What most child sex predators do have in common are the overwhelming psychological complications of low self-esteem, feeling worthless and often are not able to establish normal healthy adult-to-adult relationships.
In most cases, a person who commits a sex offender against a child is classified into one of two categories; either a fixated offender or a regressed offender. With each type of child molester carrying specific traits, once apprehended, their treatment protocols and punishments are generally designed and tailored based on which category the sex offender fits.

Fixated child molesters are individuals who, generally, are compulsively attracted to children. Because child molesters tend to feel unattractive and are unable to establish normal adult relationships, they are attracted to children the can manipulate. Often, a fixated child molester will engage in daily activities with children, find children sexually attractive and are usually classified as pedophile. They are often sexually immature and not able to engage in sexual relationships of their own age appropriateness.