RT Article T1 Child abuse myths are pedophilic myths: cognitive distortions are stronger in individuals convicted of sexual offenses diagnosed with pedophilia compared to those without such diagnosis JF Deviant behavior VO 44 IS 7 SP 1013 OP 1025 A1 Eberhaut, Sabrina 1988- A2 Schmidt, Alexander F. A2 Banse, Rainer A2 Eher, Reinhard 1963- LA English YR 2023 UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1856168476 AB Based on the theory of cognitive dissonance and the understanding of cognitive distortions as defense mechanisms, we argued that individuals convicted of sexual offenses diagnosed with exclusive pedophilia (epICSOC) report more child offense related cognitive distortions compared to individuals convicted of sexual offenses without such diagnosis (oICSOC). In the present study, we aimed to empirically validate these clinical observations and previous results by relating cognitive distortions to four measures of pedophilic preference, namely, a clinical diagnosis of pedophilia, viewing time captured and self-reported pedophilic preference (EISIP; as well as the SSPI-2). Results revealed that cognitive distortions in general and minimizing sexually offending behavior toward children or attributing sexual interest to children in particular, significantly correlated with all four measures of pedosexual preference. Regression analyses, furthermore, indicated that attributing sexual interest to children was the best predictor for a pedosexual preference. Results thus show that cognitive distortions typically associated with child molesting in general are, in fact, more common in individuals convicted of sexual offenses diagnosed with exclusive pedophilia than in those without such diagnosis. NO Literaturverzeichnis: Seite 1023-1025 K1 Kindesmisshandlung K1 Sexualstraftäter K1 Psychische Gesundheit K1 Persönlichkeitsstörung K1 Sexueller Kindesmissbrauch K1 Pädophilie DO 10.1080/01639625.2022.2132548