teleiophilia

Teleiophilia is a paraphilia characterized by sexual attraction to an object, which in this specific case, is a specific stage of development in human life. This attraction is not to individuals but to the general concept or appearance of a particular age group. It is important to distinguish teleiophilia from attractions to specific individuals who happen to be within that age group. The focus of the paraphilia is on the developmental stage itself rather than the person.

The term teleiophilia is derived from the Greek words "teleios" meaning "complete" or "mature," and "philia" meaning "love" or "attraction." This etymology points to the attraction being directed towards a perceived state of maturity or completion. The specific age range that elicits this attraction can vary among individuals who identify with this paraphilia.

Like other paraphilias, teleiophilia exists on a spectrum and is not inherently harmful as long as it does not involve non-consensual acts or cause distress to the individual experiencing the attraction. The classification and understanding of paraphilias are areas of ongoing study within psychology and psychiatry. When such attractions cause significant distress or lead to harmful behaviors, they may be considered a paraphilic disorder.