Ownership Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Ownership, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Ownership?

It is a conditiion that a property is legally and exclusively owned by a person who has full control over it.When a property is owned by more then one person it means Co-ownership.

History and Meaning of Pedophilia

Pedophilia is a term used to describe a psychological disorder in which an adult experiences sexual attraction and desire towards prepubescent children. The term was first coined in 1886 by Richard von Krafft-Ebing, a German psychiatrist, in his book "Psychopathia Sexualis" as "Paedophilia erotica" to describe this abnormal sexual interest in children. This disorder is distinct from hebephilia (attraction towards pubescent children) and ephebophilia (attraction towards adolescents).

Pedophilia is not considered a crime in itself, but sexual acts with children are considered illegal and punishable by law. It is a widely recognized mental illness and is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Examples of Pedophilia

  1. Dr. William James Vahey, a teacher who worked in multiple international schools, was discovered to have molested more than 90 children over four decades. He had a collection of child pornography and would drug the children before sexually assaulting them.

  2. The Netflix documentary "Abducted in Plain Sight" tells the story of Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped twice by her neighbor, Robert Berchtold. Berchtold was attracted to Jan and sexually assaulted her during both kidnappings.

  3. In 2012, British public figure Jimmy Savile was posthumously revealed to have sexually abused hundreds of children throughout his career as a TV presenter and radio host.

Legal Terms Similar to Pedophilia

  1. Child Sexual Abuse: This term refers to any sexual activity between an adult and a child under the age of consent.

  2. Sexual Grooming: A process by which a sexual offender gains a child's trust with the intent of preparing them for sexual activity.

  3. Child Pornography: Refers to visual depictions (such as pictures, videos or drawings) that depict children engaging in sexual activity. It is a crime to create, distribute, possess or access child pornography.