Dictionary
Definitions of common terms in discussions related to MAPs
Understanding the terminology used to discuss MAPs is an important first step in learning about this population. The definitions below have been developed based on the usage of these terms in research papers and other scholarly works, and reflect how they are used across our content. We have excluded definitions that are not relevant to MAPs.
A
ally
A non-MAP who takes action to decrease the stigma surrounding minor attractions and increase the availability of non-stigmatizing support for MAPs, generally with the goal of improving MAP wellbeing.
anti-MAP (anti)
Somebody who opposes the existence of MAPs, their ability to seek non-stigmatizing support, or the existence of communities intended to support MAPs
anti-contact, non-offending minor-attracted person (ACNOMAP)
A MAP who believes sexual activity between adults and minors is harmful due to an inherent inability of minors to consent to sexual activities with adults and would still be harmful even if such activity became legal and socially acceptable and who has not engaged in illegal sexual activity.
Note: Not all anti-contact, non-offending MAPs add "AC" and/or "NO" when describing themselves as a MAP.
anti-contact (anti-c)
Describes somebody who believes sexual activity between adults and minors carries a high risk of harm and would still be potentially harmful, and therefore morally wrong, even if such activity became legal and socially acceptable.
age of attraction (AOA)
The collection of ages (and genders) of kids to whom a MAP is attracted.
C
chronophilia
A paraphilia in which attraction is experienced towards individuals at a specific stage of development. For simplicity, we include non-sexual attractions when discussing chronophilias.
Examples: nepiophilia, pedophilia, hebephilia, ephebophilia, and gerontophilia (attraction to the elderly)
contact stance
An individual's beliefs regarding the morality of and risk of harm posed by sexual activity between adults and minors.
Note: Terms like pro-contact and anti-contact only summarize one's contact stance and do not capture the complex views held by any given individual.
CSA
An abbreviation for Child Sexual Abuse.
child sexual abuse material (CSAM)
Content depicting the sexual abuse of a real child. This is a more accurate replacement for the term "child pornography."
Note: Some individuals and organizations erroneously use this term to describe fictional content such as drawings.
child sexual exploitation material (CSEM)
Content involving a child or a depiction of a child in a sexual pose or situation.
Note: The broad scope of this term has generated pushback from human rights organizations. CSAM is generally considered a better alternative.
E
ephebophile
Somebody with ephebophilia.
ephebophilia
A chronophilia characterized by attractions to post-pubescent minors and young adults.
exclusive
Describes a MAP who is only attracted to minors.
ex-offender
Somebody who committed a sexual offense in the (usually distant) past.
G
grooming
The act of intentionally increasing a child's susceptibility to sexual abuse, typically by increasing their dependence on the groomer.
H
hebephile
Somebody with hebephilia.
Abbreviation: hebe
hebephilia
A chronophilia characterized by attractions to pubescent minors.
I
infantophilia
See nepiophilia.
M
MAP community
An unofficial, decentralized network of support groups, social media activists, blogs, and websites dedicated to helping minor-attracted people find community and receive support from peers and professionals.
minor-attracted person (MAP)
Somebody who experiences minor attractions.
minor attractions
The collection of chronophilias that include minors as objects of attraction.
Examples: nepiophilia, pedophilia, hebephilia, and ephebophilia
N
nepiophile
Somebody with nepiophilia.
Abbreviations: nepio, nepi
nepiophilia
A chronophilia characterized by attractions to babies and/or toddlers.
non-offending minor-attracted person (NOMAP)
A MAP who has not engaged in illegal sexual activity.
Note: Not all non-offending MAPs add the "NO" when describing themselves as a MAP.
non-exclusive
Describes a MAP who is attracted to adults as well as minors.
non-MAP
Somebody who does not experience attractions to minors.
non-offending
Describes somebody who has not engaged in illegal sexual activity.
O
offender
Somebody who has recently engaged in or is engaging in illegal sexual activity.
offending
Verb: The act of engaging in illegal sexual activity.
Adjective: Describes somebody who has engaged in or is engaging in illegal sexual activity.
P
paraphile
Somebody with one or more paraphilias.
paraphilia
A pattern of stable and persistent sexual attractions to an atypical object, situation, or group of people.
Note: Paraphilias are not classified as mental illnesses or disorders (see paraphilic disorder).
Examples: podophilia (foot fetish), sexual masochism, and sexual sadism
paraphilic disorder
A mental disorder in which an individual experiences clinical distress due to a paraphilia or acts on a paraphilia in a way that causes or risks causing harm to others. Having a paraphilia does not automatically mean somebody has a paraphilic disorder.
Examples: pedophilic disorder, sexual sadism disorder, and sexual masochism disorder
pedohebephile
Somebody with pedophilia and hebephilia.
Note: This term is generally considered outdated and is not widely used.
pedophile
Somebody with pedophilia.
Note: This word is often incorrectly used as a synonym for child abuser. Most child abusers are not pedophiles and most pedophiles are not child abusers, so the terms are not interchangeable.
Abbreviation: pedo
pedophilia
A chronophilia characterized by attractions to prepubescent children.
Note: This word is often incorrectly used as a synonym for child sexual abuse.
pedophilia obsessive-compulsive disorder (POCD)
A form of OCD characterized by intrusive thoughts about pedophilia or child sexual abuse.
pedophilic disorder
A condition in which a pedophile experiences clinical distress due to their attractions and the stigma surrounding them or acts on their attractions in a way that causes or risks causing harm.
Note: Having pedophilia does not automatically mean somebody has pedophilic disorder.
pro-contact (pro-c)
Describes somebody who believes sexual activity between adults and children is morally acceptable in some situations, usually after social reform regarding legal and societal attitudes towards such activities.
Abbreviation: pro-c
Note: Many pro-contact MAPs are still non-offending.