Long-term effects of sibling incest.
Although sexual abuse of children is recognized as a serious problem, sibling incest has received relatively little attention. A distinction has been made between power-oriented sibling incest and nurturance-oriented incest. The authors review the relevant literature and present four clinical examples. The cases illustrate the broad range of sibling incest and demonstrate its effects, including the long-term consequences for the perpetrator. Lasting difficulties in establishing and maintaining close relationships, especially sexual ones, are prominent features of each case. Without denying the occurrences of benign sex-play between siblings, the authors emphasize exploitation and abuse as pathogenic aspects of sibling incest.
Daie
N
N
Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Witztum
E
E
Eleff
M
M
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D012801:Sibling Relations; D014754:Violence