
Child sexual abuse refers to sexual abuse of a child by an adult, or some other person significantly older or in a position of power or control over the child, where the child is used for sexual stimulation of another person. Studies of the effects of child sexual abuse often define it as including invitations or requests in addition to actual actions, with regard to any sexual interactions between adult and child, from kissing or hugging to completed intercourse, and all other related activities.Under the law, "child sexual abuse" is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. The American Psychiatric Association states that "children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults", and strongly condemns any such action: "An adult who engages in sexual activity with a child is performing a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior."Child sexual abuse can cause physical injury to the child and both short and long term emotional and psychological harm, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, propensity to re-victimization in adulthood, and other symptoms.Professor of Sociology David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes against Children Research Center, describes "child sexual abuse" as requiring two components, "(1) sexual activities involving a child and (2) an 'abusive condition' such as coercion or a large age gap between the participants indicating a lack of consensuality." Finkelhor wrote that in the USA as of 1994, approximately 20% of women and 5% to 15% of men had experienced some form of sexual abuse as children; and that he did not find evidence of dramatic increases in recent generations, or that socioeconomic circumstances are major risk factors.When an adult seeks or engages in sexual activity with a child, public sentiment usually concludes these actions as a manifestation of pedophilia, however most studies investigating incarcerated sex offenders suggest that the majority of convicted child sex offenders are not primarily or exclusively attracted to children. Pro-pedophile activists use the phrase "adult-child sex" and related academic defenses to redefine "child sexual abuse" through value-neutral terminology to normalize and promote the idea that children can consent to sex with adults and are not necessarily harmed by such practice.