Exploration of Incest in the Childhood Development of Serial Rapists (From Child Trauma I Issues and Research, P 405-416, 1992, Ann Wolbert Burgess, ed. -- See NCJ-137060)

• NCJ Number: 137075
• Author(s): A McCormack; F E Rokous; R R Hazelwood; A W Burgess
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 84-JN-K010
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Sale Source: Garland Publishing, Inc.
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter explores the phenomenon of male incest in a sample of 41 incarcerated serial rapists.

Abstract

Of 31 men who reported childhood sexual abuse (penetration, exploitation, or the witnessing of disturbing sexual events), just over half were incest victims. All incestuous experiences occurred before puberty, and the majority of the experiences were protracted. When compared to nonincest victims of sexual abuse, incest victims were more likely to report parental physical abuse and to describe their childhood family structure at age 16 as reconstituted (step-parent present). In all cases in which the step-father was implicated in the abuse, the abuse involved the witnessing of a disturbing sexual activity. Incest victims were significantly more likely than nonincest victims to re-enact sexually abusive behavior within the family. This finding suggests that clinical discoveries of sibling sexual activity should alert clinicians that other incestuous activities may be occurring or have occurred. 33 references