Seringkali, pelaku kejahatan seksual terhadap anak didorong oleh keinginan untuk mendominasi dan mengendalikan, bukan hanya hasrat seksual.Pedophilia is a paraphilia. In modern versions of official diagnostic coding techniques such as the DSM-5 and ICD-11, "pedophilia" is distinguished from "pedophilic ailment". Pedophilic ailment is outlined being