Am I a pedophile? Or was it just a random erection?

Hi, I am a 21 year old male. This summer I got an erection when randomly looking at a young boys legs. I am worried that I might be a pedophile. It might have been a random erection though, since I get random erections everyday. Please don't be rude, thanks.

well, you dont say how young young is because at 21 you are still young yourself. there is some leeway with the age bracket here. based on one incident, i would not jump to the conclusion that you are a pedophile when you cannot determine if it was a random erection or not. if this becomes a pattern or if you begin to have arousing thoughts about young boys, then you should consider seeking help.

Hi gayman. I am so sorry that you are struggling...it would seem to me that if you are that worried about it that you are not but I am not an expert. Have you tried talking to a counselor? Pedophilia is a serious thing and you are so young that it is sad to me that you are so concerned...I think it is normal for a young man to have those physical things going on everyday...I have a son that age and he tells his Dad and me that that happens and that could just be a normal thing but it is good to ask if you are concerned....hope this helps....in any case I would ask a professional...

Hi gayman,

I wouldn't worry about it. The truth of the matter is many men whether gay or straight may have random erections or fantasies of all sorts, but that doesn't automatically label them this or that. When you talk about human sexuality, it is very complex, and sometimes it "misfires", at which point it is possible to make a conscious correction not by fighting it and being scared of it (in fact, if you fight or are scared of it, it is likely to come back to haunt you), but saying, ok, it happened, it is just a thought, a physical manifestation that did not turn into any action. I identified it, and it's simply not my cup of tea. Moving on.

The more you stress about it, the more likely, it will bother you.

- stuck

If you are worrying/ruminating on your fear due to a bodily response, probably more of an obsessive worry than leading to the path of abusing children.

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Hi,
I do not think so, maybe reading this could be of help POCD vs. Pedophilia | Ask the Therapist

Before seeking help, in your shoes, I would test it out.

Check out a kid and see if you are aroused again.

If not, then all is well .... if yes, well, then, seek help immediately.

Hi again. I can add that I'm not attracted to children. I don't have fantasies or desires towards them, and I don't have recurrent sexual urges towards them. So I'm pretty sure I'm not a sick pedo, lol.

A picture of a kid, not a real one, presumably.
You can get treatment if it is an issue, well done for being so brave and honest.

Glad you have eliminated this. One thing to remember is not to become very judgmental. Some people develop these "unnatural" feelings as a result of mental illnesses, childhood abuse, etc. So they need help just like many of us here for our problem (anxiety for me). So, the best approach is to be compassionate. Most of us on here are sick one way or another.

Yeah, Im sorry about that. I agree with you. Have a nice day man

It's probably POCD I've had the same kind of problem with my kid sister in the past, it's just a bodily response

I agree that this one incident doesn't make you a pedophile. Like stuck1978 said, human sexuality is a very complex thing. For the first few weeks after my daughter was born, every time I picked her up I would get an erection. It had absolutely nothing to do with anything sexual and I still don't know why it happened.

You didn't act on it so Nope ! (:

I checked out a picture of a boys legs. I didn't get an erection. So Im pretty sure Im not a pedophile.

It was probably random. Do you get Erections looking at children normally? Or was it just that once?

When I am on the street and randomly see a child I don't get an erection, if thats what you mean. So it was just that one time.

Yes. Then you're safe aha.

Now that I think of it I can't really remember if I had an erection or not. I felt something happening in my pants but I didn't like put my hand in there to check if I had an erection… So i don't know. Do you guys know how I can determine if it was an erection or not? It might have been tingling (Gronial response).I also can't remember if I got a weird kind of good feeling or not. So what I am thinking is that I didn't get an erection and I didn't get a weird kind of good feeling. Feels good man.

I think your over thinking this ...
As long as you don't act on your feelings then your fine

Example : It's like a person who enjoys watching horror movies , dose that mean they want to kill people in real life ?

No .. As long as they don't kill a person in real life then they are not a killer .

Do you see my point ?

i am now worried about being a non-exclusive pedo, i've gotten 20 erections off of gay porn the last week and a half, and 5 off of straight porn. when i fantasize about havin sex w women i get erections. i've gotten 2 erections off of justin biebers six pack (he's 20). i think boys are cute.. but i don't think im attracted to them. i dont have fantasies about em. if im a non-ex pedo i'm ok w it since i will have a man who im attracted to , yet it sucks ... what do u guys think?

bump......................

I honestly think you are reading to much into your sexual likes. Arousal to gay men/gay porn doesnt make one a pedophile. Neither does getting erections from a man's 6 pack, not when the man is of age. If you are not fantasizing about boys, then I don't think you have anything to worry about. If you are really concerned about this, you may think about talking to a therapist about your sexual confusion.

Pedophile? I don't think so... even when someone thinks about kids... it can be just intrusive thoughts.

Tbh boners happen for no reason sometimes. I mean it's not like you were thinking about touching the kid and like getting off on him or anything, right? Although you really should talk to someone, no concern should ever be brushed off