NCJ Number
57944
Journal
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 41-49
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A REVIEW OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE AND SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON FATHER-DAUGHTER INCEST AND SEXUAL ABUSE FINDS SIX FACTORS IMPORTANT IN ITS ETIOLOGY, RANGING FROM THE PERSONALITIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS TO LIVING ARRANGEMENTS.
Abstract
THE FACTORS INCLUDE THE PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENDER (WHO IS THE FATHER IN THE MAJORITY OF INCEST CASES), THE ROLE OF THE MOTHER, A MILIEU OF ABANDONMENT, SUBCULTURAL ISOLATION, POOR FAMILY SEXUAL BOUNDARIES, AND OPPORTUNITY FACTORS. THE CASES OBSERVED RANGE FROM ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL STIMULATION TO LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS LASTING FROM 6 MONTHS TO SEVERAL YEARS. THE OFFENDER IS GENERALLY A NORMAL MAN, NEITHER ABNORMALLY CRIMINAL NOR ABNORMALLY STUPID. HIS BEHAVIOR IS BEST UNDERSTOOD IN TERMS OF HIS BACKGROUND AND THE FAMILY SITUATION. INCEST OFFENDERS USUALLY DOMINATE THE FAMILY EVEN THOUGH MANY ARE QUITE DEPENDENT UPON THEIR WIVES FOR EMOTIONAL AND EVEN FINANCIAL SUPPORT. A HIGH DEGREE OF ALCOHOLISM HAS BEEN FOUND AMONG THESE OFFENDERS RANGING FROM 30 TO 50 PERCENT, AND THIS COMBINATION OFTEN POINTS TO GREATER PSYCHOPATHOLOGY. THE MOTHER ABETS THE INCEST BY IGNORING IT OR, IN SOME CASES, ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING IT. FREQUENTLY THE MOTHER WITHDRAWS FROM THE FAMILY EMOTIONALLY OR IS PHYSICALLY ABSENT, WORKING LONG HOURS, ETC. INCEST IS ALSO MOST COMMON IN A MILIEU OF ABANDONMENT WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS DO NOT FEEL SECURE WITH EACH OTHER, WHEN THE FAMILY IS ISOLATED FROM OTHERS AND FROM COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND WHEN LIVING ARRANGEMENTS PRECLUDE PRIVACY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY SUPPORTS THIS LITERATURE REVIEW. (GLR)