The Abel Assessment for Sexual Interest (also Abel Assessment for Interest in Paraphilias) is an assessment test that purports to measure sexual interest in various subjects – and especially to measure a tendency toward pedophilia.[1] The test was created by Dr. Gene G. Abel in 1995, and has been subsequently revised several times. It has been used as evidence in Northern America when prosecuting sex offenders, although its reliability has since been disputed[2] and it has been declared inadmissible in court in various jurisdictions.
The Abel Assessment is controversial, because its results, although subjective, are presented as cut and dried. Some experts question its methodology.[3][4]
Despite the test's uncertainty, mental health professionals have used the Abel Assessment to civilly commit sex offenders.