James Cantor
Encyclopedia
James M. Cantor is a clinical psychologist
specializing in sexology
. He is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine, and the Head of the Law and Mental Health Research Section of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
.
He is editor-in-chief of Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
, and a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Sexual Aggression
, The Journal of Sex Research, and Archives of Sexual Behavior
.
, with a concentration in computer science and minors in mathematics and physics. He obtained an MA from Boston University and a PhD in clinical psychology from McGill University with a thesis on "Reversal of fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats".
s. His study using magnetic resonance imaging
to examine the brains of male pedophile
s received widespread attention. He found a significant decrease in the amount of white matter
in their brains compared to control subjects, in addition to having lower IQ and being shorter than average, which was interpreted as suggesting a link to early brain development. Cantor insists however that these findings do not imply that pedophiles should not be held legally responsible for their actions.
Cantor is one of the co-authors of a 2008 paper by Ray Blanchard
, which shaped the DSM-5
proposal of replacing the pedophilia diagnosis with pedohebophilic disorder, adding hebephilia
as part of the definition of this disorder but at the same time differentiating it into three subtypes: pedophilic type (attracted to children younger than 11), hebephilic (attracted to children between 11-14), and pedohebephilic type (attracted to both age groups mentioned.) The main argument in the paper for this addition is that the DSM-IV-TR definition of pedophilia
is not sufficient to cover attraction to "physically immature persons". The proposal has been criticized, mainly on the grounds that it pathologizes reproductively valid behavior in order to uphold current social and legal standards.
Cantor has rejected any linkage between homosexuality and pedophilia, saying "It's quite solidly shown in the scientific literature that there is absolutely no association between being a gay man and being a pedophile". He is skeptical of shemale
s—men who undergo procedures to look female and who live as women, but who do not seek sex reassignment surgery
—who say they want to remain in a shemale state. Cantor has been quoted as saying that "[the 'shemales'] often change their stories as they come to terms with everything." He also wrote a positive review of the controversial book The Man Who Would Be Queen
in the newsletter of APA's Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues (Division 44). Cantor gave a speech about his personal experience of being a gay graduate student at the 1991 annual convention of the American Psychological Association
.
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
specializing in sexology
Sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behavior, and function. The term does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sex, such as political analysis or social criticism....
. He is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine, and the Head of the Law and Mental Health Research Section of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is a consortium of mental health clinics at several sites in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its name in French is Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale...
.
He is editor-in-chief of Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes articles about the clinical and theoretical aspects of sexual abuse, including its etiology, consequences, prevention, treatment, and management strategies. It is the official journal of the...
, and a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Sexual Aggression
Journal of Sexual Aggression
The Journal of Sexual Aggression is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes articles about research findings and the development of theory, policy, and practice regarding sexual aggression in all its forms...
, The Journal of Sex Research, and Archives of Sexual Behavior
Archives of Sexual Behavior
The Archives of Sexual Behavior is a peer-reviewed academic journal in sexology. It is the official publication of the International Academy of Sex Research.- History :...
.
Education
Cantor studied interdisciplinary science at the Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
, with a concentration in computer science and minors in mathematics and physics. He obtained an MA from Boston University and a PhD in clinical psychology from McGill University with a thesis on "Reversal of fluoxetine-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats".
Research
Cantor's research centers on the development of sexual interests, including sexual orientation and paraphiliaParaphilia
Paraphilia is a biomedical term used to describe sexual arousal to objects, situations, or individuals that are not part of normative stimulation and that may cause distress or serious problems for the paraphiliac or persons associated with him or her...
s. His study using magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
to examine the brains of male pedophile
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
s received widespread attention. He found a significant decrease in the amount of white matter
White matter
White matter is one of the two components of the central nervous system and consists mostly of myelinated axons. White matter tissue of the freshly cut brain appears pinkish white to the naked eye because myelin is composed largely of lipid tissue veined with capillaries. Its white color is due to...
in their brains compared to control subjects, in addition to having lower IQ and being shorter than average, which was interpreted as suggesting a link to early brain development. Cantor insists however that these findings do not imply that pedophiles should not be held legally responsible for their actions.
Cantor is one of the co-authors of a 2008 paper by Ray Blanchard
Ray Blanchard
Ray Milton Blanchard is an American-Canadian sexologist, best known for his research studies on pedophilia, gender dysphoria, and sexual orientation. He has also published research studies on phallometry and several paraphilias, including transvestism and autoerotic asphyxia.-Education and...
, which shaped the DSM-5
DSM-5
The next edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , commonly called DSM-5 , is currently in consultation, planning and preparation...
proposal of replacing the pedophilia diagnosis with pedohebophilic disorder, adding hebephilia
Hebephilia
Hebephilia refers to the sexual preference for individuals in the early years of puberty . Girls typically begin the process of puberty at age 10 or 11; boys at age 11 or 12...
as part of the definition of this disorder but at the same time differentiating it into three subtypes: pedophilic type (attracted to children younger than 11), hebephilic (attracted to children between 11-14), and pedohebephilic type (attracted to both age groups mentioned.) The main argument in the paper for this addition is that the DSM-IV-TR definition of pedophilia
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
is not sufficient to cover attraction to "physically immature persons". The proposal has been criticized, mainly on the grounds that it pathologizes reproductively valid behavior in order to uphold current social and legal standards.
Cantor has rejected any linkage between homosexuality and pedophilia, saying "It's quite solidly shown in the scientific literature that there is absolutely no association between being a gay man and being a pedophile". He is skeptical of shemale
Shemale
Shemale is a term used in sex work to describe trans women with male genitalia and augmented female breasts from breast augmentation and/or use of hormones...
s—men who undergo procedures to look female and who live as women, but who do not seek sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
—who say they want to remain in a shemale state. Cantor has been quoted as saying that "[the 'shemales'] often change their stories as they come to terms with everything." He also wrote a positive review of the controversial book The Man Who Would Be Queen
The Man Who Would Be Queen
The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism is a 2003 book by J. Michael Bailey, published by Joseph Henry Press....
in the newsletter of APA's Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues (Division 44). Cantor gave a speech about his personal experience of being a gay graduate student at the 1991 annual convention of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
.