Demographic characteristics of incestuous families
WILLIAM J. SEWER, FACOOG JUDITH HUFFMAN-SEIFER, RN., M.HS., PH.D.(c) Dayton, Ohio
intervention programs are being based. Because of the increasing number of Our personal interest in child/adult sexual ac- incestuous child/adult sexual tivity was raised in the course of interviewing encounters, clinicians need to be women who presented themselves for sex therapy. prepared to treat and counsel victims Incestuous or sexually abusive experiences during and their families. This article childhood surfaced repeatedly. Eighty-six of 104 considers the scope of the problem, women (83 percent of our female patient popula- discusses the types of incest, and tion in the last 3 years) have reported sexual ex- presents three sets of symptoms- ploitation by an adult. psychologic, behavioral, and How frequently does child/adult sex occur? physical—to alert the clinician. Available statistics reflect only those few cases of- ficially reported. None of the women who spoke of their involvements to us had reported them to any authority, or to their families. Also, none had shared this information with their siblings or had attempted to protect or prevent them from being Increased curiosity and interest in human sexual- sexually abused. ity in recent decades has led to adults being com- Children refrain from telling a parent of incestu- fortable enough to recognize that children too are ous advances for many reasons. Fear that they sexual beings, experience sexual feelings, and re- won t be believed, fear of being blamed, guilt stem- spond to sexual stimuli. This evolution has led to a ming from any pleasure that they may have exper- current, consuming need to study what kids do ienced, fear of breaking up their homes—all of sexually, how often they do it, and, most impor- these serve to suppress divulging such sexual en- tantly, with whom they are doing it. It is really no counters.3 great surprise then that reports of child/adult sex- In a study of 1,800 college students, almost one- ual activity are increasing. third of the respondents of both sexes reported sex- Many parents now do accept the sexual nature of ual encounters with an adult during their child- their children. Unfortunately, many also feel a hoods. Fifty percent of the young women had sense of proprietary ownership—the right to use or reported it to their parents; only 10 percent of the abuse their children in any way that the adults young men had done so. Current reports estimate choose. that 10 to 20 percent of our present adult popula- Reflecting the general interest in childhood sex- tion had a sexual encounter with an adult while ual activity, in the last 4 years the popular press growing up.3 4 has abounded with articles on sexual abuse of chil- dren. The majority of these items usually relate Discussion retrospective, subjective experiences of adult ex- Female children are reportedly the victims of sex- victims. 1 2 This type of information does have some ual abuse in 95 percent of cases.5 Although victim- value in increasing public awareness, but it is a ized children as young as 4 months have been re- morbid sort of consciousness-raising at best. How- ported, the average age of victims is 9-12 years," ever, given the apparent extent of the phenomena the time when the potential for emotional trauma of child-adult sexual activity, as well as the tends to be the greatest. This is the stage of psycho- amount of professional time and money being in- sexual development when most children are start- . s vested in legal proceedings and treatment pro- mg to question sexual issues, when they ask ques- grams, it is time to increase research endeavors to tions such as "Who am I going to be as a sexual determine the validity of many of the assump- person?" and "How do I want to relate to others tions—the Barnum statements—on which these sexually?"
663/90 May 1984/Joumal of AOA/vol. 83/no. 9 Evidence shows that most male perpetrators are theoretically, because women are assumed to be heterosexual in their adult sexual orientation, less sexually assertive and more nurturing. It is even though they may be sexual with male chil- also assumed that mothers have the opportunity to dren. In a study of 175 men convicted of sexual as- rechannel and diffuse sexual feelings in socially saults on children, no homosexual participants acceptable ways, such as the touching and fondling were reported. 8- 19 This study suggests that the required in acts of child care. This exclusive moth- adult heterosexual male constitutes a greater risk er/daughter activity does not preclude occasional to both boys and girls than does the adult homo- cases of ménage a trois relationships between par- sexual male.11 ents and daughters. In situations where the perpetrator is a family Father/daughter incest and incest involving a member or acquaintance, the use of physical force father figure are the most frequently reported is rarely necessary to engage a child in sexual ac- types of intrafamily sex. 14 In what type of family tivities because of the trusting or dependant rela- does father/daughter incest occur and under what tionship with the adult. 12•13 A child s cooperation circumstances? Five separate constellations that is often facilitated by the adult s position of domi- indicate that a family is at high risk to this type of nance, an offer of material goods, or a threat of incestuous behavior have been identified: (1) sex- physical violence. 14 In complying, a child may also ually incompatible parents; (2) a father who is un- be attempting to fulfill needs normally met in oth- willing to seek out another sexual partner outside er ways. For example, a child may cooperate be- the nuclear family; (3) a daughter who emerges as cause of a need for love, affection, or attention, or the central homemaker of the family when the tra- from a sense of loyalty to the adult. On the other ditional role has been abdicated by the mother for hand, a need to defy parental authority, express any of a number of reasons such as illness, career, anger about a chaotic home life, or act out a sexual or return to school; (4) perhaps the most difficult, a conflict serves only to make a child more vulner- fear of abandonment and family disintegration so able to sexual abuse. pervasive that the family is desperately seeking The majority of child/adult sexual encounters do any other alternative; and (5) a mother who may not involve penetration, contraction of venereal unconsciously sanction the incest by condoning or disease, or infliction of serious physical injury. fostering the daughter s sexual role. These moth- "Innocuous" or "victimless" forms of childhood sex- ers are characterized as actively promoting the re- ual abuse, such as exhibitionism or fondling by a lationship by sexually abandoning their husbands, stranger, which are often compulsive and habitual setting the stage for the father to choose a daugh- forms of behavior, are rarely violent and may have ter as a sexual partner because he does not wish to little impact on the child involved, depending on cultivate sexual contact outside his own fam- how the situation is handled. Sexual exploitation ily.14,17 by strangers usually involves a single episode and Research reports on fathers involved in incest usually occurs in a public place. 16 In contrast, in- present contradictory findings. Offenders have cestuous activity or sexual encounters with ac- ranged from passive, ineffective, introverted men quaintances may occur repeatedly and are more to strong, dominating authoritarians. (Other likely to occur in the home of the child or adult.5•12 views stress the dual role of the incestuous father, who may use his authoritarian position to control Types of incest his daughter s behavior, securing her developing It has been assumed that sexual activity between sexuality for himself and preventing her from sex- cousins close in age is probably the most prevalent, ual relationships with young men, while he as- although the least reported, type of incest, and, sumes the role of the awkward, adolescent lover.) seemingly, the least harmful as well. Incestuous fathers have been inconsistently de- While cases of child sexual activity with adult scribed as having pedophilic tendencies or lacking women have been reported, the overwhelming ma- them, 13 18 or as alcoholics or as substance non- jority of perpetrators are men. Forms of symbolic abusers 19; their criminal tendencies and histories incest by mothers include behavior such as insist- have at times been affirmed and at times de- ing on inserting their daughter s tampons, giving nied.8 20 They have been contradictorily termed repeated enemas to children when no bowel prob- well-educated or undereducated, as successes or as lems exist, continuing to breast feed for 4 to 5 career failures. years, and allowing a child no privacy and becom- Sexual activity between brothers and sisters re- ing enraged when the child insists on closing portedly involves more violence than does father- doors. /daughter relationships. Researchers have theo- Exclusive mother/daughter incest is even rarer, rized that the sexual behavior is an extreme
Demographic characteristics of incestuous families 664/91 extension of sibling rivalry and that it always demic performance, poor peer relationships, stems from competition and anger. 21 Therapists and chronic discipline difficulties. have reported that brother/sister incest involves (10) Substance abuse in family unit. sporadic episodes of violent sexual assault—gang (C) Physical signals rapes, sodomy with foreign objects, bondage, and (1) Persistent, unexplained abdominal pain. sadism. 22 It has also been reported that the psy- (2) Self-mutilation (children labeled "acci- chologic effects are more severe on girl victims dent prone," who cut or otherwise injure them- than on boys, and that the girls frequently are un- selves frequently). able to develop healthy peer relationships. 23 These (3) Adolescent pregnancy. families present a clinical picture that mirrors the (4) Venereal disease (in young girls and boys, sexual activities of two married couples living un- oral or anal; in adolescent girls, oral or geni- der one roof. tal). Father/son incest does not seemingly stem from (5) Vaginal/urethral discharge. a male adult s homosexual orientation. Most often, (6) Painful defecation in young boys. it appears to involve a father attempting to reach (7) Fecal soiling, especially in young boys. out, to make contact with a son in the only way (8) Fecal retention, especially in young boys. many men have been socialized to communicate— (9) Gagging in young girls. through touch and sex. This form of incest is rarely (10) Persistent, unexplained sore throats. reported, although it is reputed to be of long (11) Physical abuse. term-4 to 7 years, just as are father/daughter lia- isons.24 Summary It is important to emphasize that although inces- Symptoms tuous activity is always exploitative in its misuse There are three sets of symptoms that we have ob- of power, the assumption that child/adult sexual served clinically that are indicative of young peo- activity is always harmful, physically or psycho- ple who have been involved in child/adult sexual logically, is still questionable. Until more compre- activity, namely, psychologic, behavioral, and hensive research is completed, the universal long- physical signs: term effects of this phenomena will remain (A) Psychologic signs unclear. (1) Child/adolescent suicide attempts (differs from defiant suicide gestures in thaf they are shame-based, and the child truly believes that 1. Armstrong, L.: Kiss daddy goodnight. Hawthorne Books, New York, the family would be better if she or he were 1978 gone). 2. Browning, D.H., and Boatman, B.: Incest. Children at risk. Am J Psychiatry 134:69-72, Jan 77 (2) Adolescent prostitution (a demonstration 3. National center on child abuse and neglect. Child sexual abuse. In- of children making contact in the ways that cest, assault and sexual exploitation. D.H.E.W., Washington, D.C., Pub- they have been conditioned to, because they lication (OHDS) 79-30166, 1978 4. Shen, J.T.: Sexual abuse of adolescents. Postgrad Med 71:213-5, 281- have been rewarded previously by being sex- 9, Jun 82 ual). 5. DeFrancis, V.: Protecting the child victim of sex crimes committed by (B) Behavioral signs adults. American Humanistic Assoc., Denver, 1969 6. Greenberg, N.H.: The epidemiology of childhood sexual abuse. Pe- (1) Evidence of bribes, such as candy or toys diatr Ann 8:289-99, May 79 for youngsters and clothes for adolescents. 7. Anderson, W.P., Kunce, J.T., and Rich, B.: Sex offenders. Three per- (2) Dramatic changes in school performance. sonality types. Clin Psychol 35:671-6, Jul 79 8. Gebhard, P., et al.: Sex offenders. Harper Row, New York, 1965 (3) Evidence or depression of anxiety, such as 9. Quinsey, V.L., Chaplin, T.C., and Carrigan, W.F.: Sexual preferences nightmares or insomnia. among incestuous and non-incestuous child molestors. Behavior Ther- (4) Excessive fears of being touched, or fear of apy 10:562-5, Sep 79 10. Sarafino, E.P.: An estimate of nationwide incidence of sexual of- going home after school. fenses against children. Child Welfare 58:127-34, Feb 79 (5) Age-inappropriate behavior, such as sex- 11. Groth, A.N., and Birnbaum, H.J.: Adult sexual orientation and at- ual overtones, especially from the very young. traction to underage persons. Arch Sexual Behav 7:175-81, May 78 12. Nakashima, LI., and Zakus, G.E.: Incest. Review and clinical experi- (6) Running away. ence. Pediatrics 60:696-701, Nov 77 (7) Lighting fires (compulsive fire starting by 13. Cormier, B.M., Kennedy, M., and Sangowicz, J.: Psychodynamics of boys). father-daughter incest. Can J Psychiatry 7:203-17, Oct 62 14. Sgroi, S.M.: Sexual molestation of children. The last frontier in child (8) Elective mutism, particularly in the abuse. Child Today 4:18-21, 44, May-Jun 75 young. 15. Luther, S.L., and Price, J.H.: Child sexual abuse. A review. J Sci (9) Learning disabilities (80 to 90 percent in- Health: 50:161-5, Mar 80 16. Calderon, J.R.: Sexual assault of young people. VA Nurse Q 47:53-4, cidence), such as attention deficit, poor aca- Summer 79
665/92 May 1984/Journal of AOA/vol. 83/no. 9 17. Lustig, N.: Incest. A family survival pattern. Arch Gen Psychiatry 14:116-24, 1976 Accepted for publication in October 1983. Updating, as neces- sary, has been done by the authors. This paper was presented at . 18. Cavallin, H.: Incestuous fathers. A clinical report. Am J Psychiatry the annual meeting of the American College of Osteopathic Ob- 122:1132-8, Apr 66 stetricians and Gynecologists held in San Francisco on Febru- 19. Rada, R.T.: Alcoholism and the child molestor. Ann N Y Acad Sci ary 9, 1983. It was also presented at the annual meeting of the 273:492-6, 1976 American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians held in Wil- 20. Devroye, A.: Incest. Bibliographic review. Acta Psychiatr Belg liamsburg, Virginia, on April 14, 1983. 73:661-721, 1973 21. Bagley, C.: Varieties of incest. New Society 14:280-2, 1969 Dr. William Seifer is on the associate clinical faculty of Ohio 22. Finch, S.: Sexual activity of children with other children and adults. University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Clin Pediatr: 6:170-185, 1975 Huffman-Seifer is on the associate clinical faculty of Wright State University School of Counseling, Dayton, Ohio, and is a 23. Halleck, S.L.: Emotional effects of victimization. Sexual behavior and the law. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1965, pp. 673-80. doctoral candidate in Human Sexuality. 24. Awad, G.A.: Father-son incest. A case report. J Nery Ment Die Dr. Seifer, Grandview Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inc., Grafton 162:135-9, Feb 76 Hill Medical Building, 300 Forest Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45405.
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