NCJ Number
215372
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: 2006 Pages: 75-101
Date Published
2006
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This study explored the intergenerational transmission of sexual abuse through an analysis of the mothering styles of 24 mothers who were incest survivors.
Abstract
Results indicated four main types of mothering styles used by mothers who were incest survivors: (1) the Unaware Mother; (2) the Unwitting Accomplice; (3) the Enabler; and (4) the Common Fate Mother. The Unaware Mother is characterized by a complete lack of knowledge of her child’s victimization while the Unwitting Accomplice is characterized by latent cooperation with the sexual abuse, such as through the denial of the obvious signs of child sexual abuse. The Enabler tends to have a borderline personality and exhibit sadistic tendencies that manifest in the overt or covert encouragement of the sexual abuse of her child. The Common Fate Mother generally exhibits learned helplessness and dependency as well as high levels of anxiety and depression. Common Fate Mothers tend to respond to the sexual abuse of their children with a sense of helplessness and submission. These mothering styles suggest that one explanation for the intergenerational transmission of sexual abuse is the development of the dissociative defense mechanism as a permanent coping style, which is a way for the incest survivors to avoid memories of the sexual abuse they suffered. Participants were 5 female clinicians who provided counseling for 24 female survivors of childhood sexual abuse whose children were also sexually abused. The counselors were interviewed about their client’s life story, focusing on abuse in the family of origin and abuse in the current family. Interviews were transcribed along with client diaries written during their therapy. Transcripts were then analyzed for themes inductively. Future research should attempt to replicate these findings through quantitative research analyses. References