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hebephilic. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
hebephilic, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
hebephilic in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From hebephilia + -ic.
Adjective
hebephilic (comparative more hebephilic, superlative most hebephilic)
- Relating to, or exhibiting hebephilia (a preference for adolescent girls)
- 1980 Sexual Abuse of Children: Selected Readings page 30 (in chapter 7: "The Nature and Treatment of Male Sex Offenders" by Ronald M. Costell, M.D.)
- Hebephilic offenders (those who prefer adolescent girls) and ephebophilic offenders (those with a homosexual preference for adolescent boys) exhibit characteristics which parallel those of the pedophile.
1987, Working with Violent Families: A Guide for Clinical and Legal Practitioners, page 187:It is difficult to categorize juveniles who commit sex crimes against other children. Within this group there are hebephilic offenders who prefer adolescent females, ephebophilic offenders with a homosexual preference, and still others who appears generally pedophilic (Costell, 1980, p. 30).
- 1989 at Risk: The Other Side of Child Sexual Abuse - Page 61
- Costell (1980) describes similar characteristics in hebephilic offenders (preferring adolescent girls) and ephebophilic offenders (preferring adolescent boys).
See also
- ephebophilic - paired adjective referring to preference for adolescent boys