NCJ Number
46560
Journal
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry Volume: 42 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 237-251
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
AFTER SUGGESTING THAT INCEST HAS BEEN UNDERESTIMATED AS A SIGNIFICANT DETERMINANT OF EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE, A SPECTRUM OF PARENT-CHILD SEXUALITY IS CLASSIFIED TO AID IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SEXUALLY ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
REPORTED CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL MOLESTATION ARE ONLY THE VISIBLE PORTION OF A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM. A SURVEY OF 1,200 COLLEGE-AGE WOMEN FOUND THAT 26 PERCENT HAD HAD A SEXUAL EXPERIENCE WITH AN ADULT BEFORE AGE 13; ONLY 6 PERCENT OF THESE WERE REPORTED TO AUTHORITIES. THE AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE 200,000 TO 300,000 CASES OF FEMALE CHILD MOLESTATION IN THE U.S. EACH YEAR WITH AT LEAST 5,000 CASES OF FATHER-DAUGHTER INCEST. THE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE TREATMENT PROJECT IN SAN JOSE, CALIF., RECEIVES 165 CASES PER MILLION OF FATHER-DAUGHTER INCEST EVERY YEAR, A RATE WHICH WOULD PROJECT TO 36,000 CASES IN THE U.S. ANNUALLY. LOS ANGELES DATA ALSO INDICATE RATES MUCH HIGHER THAN PREVIOUSLY SUSPECTED. TWO GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO THOSE WHO SEXUALLY ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN ARE LACK OF IMPULSE CONTROL AND A CONFUSION OF ROLES. THE CHILD IS SEEN AS SOMETHING MORE THAN A CHILD. THESE TWO TRAITS ARE COMMON TO SEXUAL ABUSE IN GENERAL, AND LIKE CHILD ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE RANGES FROM THE SADISTIC AND BIZARRE TO BEHAVIORS SO MILD THAT THEY ARE ALMOST WITHIN THE RANGE OF WHAT SOCIETY CALLS NORMAL. AT THE MILD END IS INCIDENTAL SEXUAL CONTACT. THE SECOND LEVEL IS THE IDEOLOGICAL SEXUAL CONTACT, COMMONLY FOUND AMONG 'ENLIGHTENED' PARENTS WHO LEAVE COPIES OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED MAGAZINES AROUND THE HOUSE AND STIMULATE MORE CURIOSITY THAN THE CHILD CAN ACCEPT. A THIRD LEVEL, PSYCHOTIC INTRUSION, IS THE LEAST COMMON FORM. AT THE NEXT LEVEL IS THE CULTURE WHICH CONSIDERS INCEST NORMAL. TRUE ENDOGAMOUS (WITHIN MARRIAGE) INCEST DEVELOPS AS A SUBTLE DISTORTION OF NORMAL FAMILY ROLES AND USUALLY BEGINS AS HARMLESS SNUGGLING AND PETTING. IN SOME CASES, THE FATHER TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO EACH SUCCEEDING YOUNGER DAUGHTER. A MORE DANGEROUS VARIATION IS THE MISOGYNOUS INCEST, THE FATHER WHO IS SEXUALLY ABUSIVE TOWARD HIS WIFE AND ALSO HIS DAUGHTER. IMPERIOUS INCEST FUSES THE IDEOLOGICAL, RUSTIC, AND MISOGYNOUS CATEGORIES: THESE MEN SET THEMSELVES UP AS EMPERORS IN THEIR HOMES AND REQUIRE ALL FEMALES IN THE HOUSEHOLD TO HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH THEM. PEDOPHILIC INCEST GENERALLY DOES NOT INVOLVE INTERCOURSE, AND THE SMALL CHILD SELDOM REPORTS 'DADDY'S LITTLE GAME.' CHILD RAPE IS THE MORE VIOLENT FORM OF PEDOPHILIA. IT AND PERVERSE INCEST ARE THE TYPES MOST LIKELY TO COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE POLICE OR SOCIAL WORKERS. MANY OF THE WIVES IN THESE MARRIAGES WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED THEMSELVES AS CHILDREN. COORDINATED EFFORT IS NEEDED FOR THE DETECTION, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM IS THE FIRST STEP. (GLR)