NCJ Number
46192
Journal
Victimology Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 226-235
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE EVOLUTION OF PSYCHIATRIC IDEAS ABOUT INCEST IS TRACED, AND GENERAL GUIDELNES OF NORMAL SEXUAL LIFE IN THE FAMILY APPLICABLE TO MOST SUBCULTURES ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
ALL SOCIETIES HAVE ESTABLISHED RULES TO GOVERN SEXUAL AND MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE FAMILY OR KINSHIP GROUP; THEY HAVE USUALLY INCLUDED AN INCEST TABOO. MANY MODERN PSYCHIATRIC THEORIES, BEGINNING WITH FREUD, HAVE LINKED INCEST WITH THE CHILD'S 'OEDIPAL' PERIOD. JUNG SAW THE INCEST TABOO AS NECESSARY TO FORCE MATURE CHILDREN OUT OF THE HOME AND TO FOSTER THE FORMATION OF RELATIONSHIPS OUTSIDE THE FAMILY. IN MOST THEORIES, THE CHILD WAS FOCUSED UPON AS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY. IN THE 1960'S, THEORISTS BEGAN VIEWING INCEST AS A SYMPTOM OF SEVERE FAMILY DYSFUNCTION, RATHER THAN AS A CAUSE OF A CERTAIN DISORDER OR AS INDICATIVE OF A PARTICULAR PERSONALITY TYPE. THE AUTHOR DESCRIBES A BROAD RANGE OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE FAMILY WHICH WOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL, VARYING WITH THE CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF THE FAMILY AND WITH THE AGE OF THE CHILD. PHYSICAL CLOSENESS AND TENDERNESS TOWARD A CHILD ARE 'SEXUAL' IN A GROWTH-PROMOTING WAY. ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM IS THAT BEHAVIOR WHICH, IN THE PARTICULAR CULTURAL CONTEXT, IS OVERSTIMULATING. PARENTS MUST PROVIDE A GOOD BALANCE SO AS NOT TO OVER- OR UNDERSTIMULATE A CHILD, BEING OPEN IN SOME AREAS WHILE PRIVATE IN OTHERS. THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH ARE ASPECTS OF NORMAL SEXUAL LIFE IN THE HOME. THESE INCLUDE: NO ATTEMPT BY PARENTS TO SATISFY THEIR ADULT, GENITAL-SEXUAL NEEDS THROUGH THEIR CHILDREN; NO SEDUCTION OR OVERSTIMULATION OF THE CHILD; ADEQUATE PRIVACY FOR BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN OVERT SEXUAL MATTERS, BUT A WILLINGNESS ON THE PARENTS' PART TO TRANSMIT HONEST INFORMATION ABOUT SEX TO THEIR CHILDREN; AN ABILITY TO ADAPT FAMILY PRACTICES SO THAT THEY REMAIN SUITED TO THE CHILD'S CHANGING AGE AND STAGE OF PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT; AND CONSISTENT CHILD-REARING PRACTICES AND PARENTAL AGREEMENT ON APPROPRIATE TECHNIQUES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (VDA)