Thesis (M.A.) English--University of Central Oklahoma, 2008.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 1983. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-122).

The problem of incest is beginning to receive a recognition and research attention long overdue. Becoming more evident is the prevalence and far reaching effects of incest. Currently, little distinction is made between the treatment approach for males and females, yet research indicates differences between the two sexes. This study explores possible differences between male and female incest victims in (1) their moral ethic, (2) their self-definition, (3) the basis from which they felt compelled to comply with the incestuous abuse, (4) the reasons they believed the sexual abuse was right or wrong, (5) the reasons for telling someone or keeping the incest a secret, (6) how they decided whether or not they made the right choice, (7) the manner in which they have changed since the abuse began, (8) the content and degree of their own guilt and/or lowered esteem, and (9) the ideas they have of changes which could have prevented the abuse.

Thesis ((M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of the North, 2000 / Refer to the document

Text in Afrikaans / This thesis offers a case illustration where autonomy as explanatory construction is described from ecosystemic thinking. Certain important constructions with the emphasis on autonomy are discussed. The focus is on a family in which incest occurred. Some possible patterns in such families are discussed. The content is presented in the form of a play in four acts, namely: Act 1 : The incest relationship Act 2: The disclosure of the secret Act 3: The involvement of the people concerned Act 4: The involvement of the helping professions The autonomy of the incestuous family and the way in which conservation is manifested is described. The research applies the theory to describe the process of an incest drama in one family. Conclusions and recommendations are applied to the general social work practice. / Hierdie verhandeling bied 'n illustrasie waar outonomie as verduidelikende konstruksie vanuit ekosistemiese denke in 'n gevallestudie beskryf word. Sekere belangrike konstruksies van ekosistemiese denke, met die klem op outonomie, word bespreek. Die fokus is verder ook op 'n gesin waarin · bloedskande voorkom en enkele moontlike patrone in hierdie gesinne word bespreek. Die inhoud word in die vorm van 'n drama wat in vier bedrywe uitgespeel word, aangebied, naamlik: Die 1e Bedryf: Die Bloedskande-verhouding Die 2e Bedryf: Die Bekendmaking van die geheim Die 3e Bedryf: Die Reaksie van die persone betrokke Die 4e Bedryf: Die Betrokkenheid van die helpende professies Die outonomie van die bloedskandegesin en hoe daar konservering in bogenoemde vier bedrywe voorkom, word beskryf. Daar word ook gefokus op die outonomie van die navorser en die professionele persone betrokke. Die teorie is toegepas in die navorsing om die proses van 'n bloedskandedrama van een Die teorie is toegepas in die navorsing om die proses van 'n bloedskandedrama van een gesin volledig te beskryf. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings dui op die bruikbaarheid in die algemene maatskaplike werk praktyk. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Sciences)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not adults who were child incest participants exhibited greater personality adjustment problems than adults who were not child incest participants. The sample consisted of undergraduate students of The University of Arizona who had volunteered to participate in the study. Each student completed the Personal Orientation Inventory as a measure of personality adjustments, and a questionnaire adapted from the David Finkelhor Questionnaire, which placed each respondent into one of four groups. Group 1 respondents reported having had a childhood sexual experience with another child (a friend or a sibling). Group 2 respondents reported having had a childhood sexual experience with an adult who was not a family member. Group 3 respondents, the child incest participants, reported having had a childhood sexual experience with an adult who was a family member. Group 4 respondents reported having had no childhood sexual experiences. The data was analyzed in two 4 x 2 factorial analyses of variance. The P.O.I. scale scores and subscale scores were the dependent measures of personality adjustment. The independent measures of the first analysis were group membership and gender; of the second analysis, group membership and age. No statistically significant differences among the groups were found on any of the eight P.O.I. scale scores. There were statistically significant effects due to gender on three of the eight P.O.I. scales, females tending to score higher than males. The one exception to that trend was on the Time Competent scale, on which the males of Group 3 scored higher than the females of Group 3. Although that reversal trend occurred, there were no statistically significant interaction effects between group membership and gender. There were statistically significant effects due to age on two of the eight P.O.I. scales, older persons tending to score higher than younger persons. The one exception to this trend was on the Spontaneity subscale, on which the younger persons of Group 4 scored higher than the older persons. This reversal did result in a statistically significant interaction effect between group membership and age. The results of this study, although limited in scope, indicate that not all adults who were child incest participants exhibit greater personality adjustment problems than adults who were not child incest participants.

The present study of all cases of substantiated child sexual abuse received by a local social service agency in 1981 examined (a) the relationship of early contact between perpetrator and victim to such mitigating factors as attachment and intergenerational boundaries (b) the impact of the incest taboo on the severity of abuse and (c) a variety of descriptive variables to identify various characteristics of incestuous families and the services they recieve. Chi square analyses failed to identify differences between groups in the severity of sexual abuse. However, the sample was not similar to those reported in the literature--containing a high percentage of unemployment, prior marriages, criminal history and prior referrals for child abuse, suggesting that this sample of perpetrators did differ significantly from the general population and from the populations which have been reported in other studies.

Many intimate relationships do not survive the process of working through issues to do with incest. However, some relationships do well despite these upheavals. Therefore the focus of the current study was on how lasting marriages manage to construct emotional safety in order to maintain emotional intimacy. The relationship issues of marriages where one partner is a survivor of incest have not been widely researched. Yet it is in the survivor's relationship where many issues arising from the incest may be played out. Literature in the survivor area focuses on the need for safety and support. Therefore, models of couple counselling may need to include these issues in their notions of healing within the process of counselling. This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. Focus groups were a primary source of data. The study examined the construction of safety in longterm intact marriages of incest survivors. This examination looked at the three-stage model of counselling for trauma proposed by Judith Herman, and the relationship between these three stages of healing and the construction of safety. The research participants included female incest survivors and husbands of survivors of incest. Participants were asked to individually make written constructions of safety related to each of the three stages of healing. A group construction process followed these individual constructions and differences within the written materials were also highlighted. Segregated groups met three times, each time concentrating on a particular stage of healing. A single validating group of the combined women and men's groups met later to do an overall construction of the notion of safety. Results indicate that emotional safety is indeed an important issue for both partners in relationships where the wife is a survivor of incest. There are differences between survivors and partners about the significance of the three stages. A model of the retrospective construction of safety has been developed. This model includes the important elements of the experience of emotional safety that arose. These elements were knowledge, negotiated control, negotiated trust, communication, how anger is managed and directed, and managing the difficult times and issues such as the times of the disclosure of incest.

This essay offers an analysis of Paul Auster's novel Invisible. The main focus of the essay is on the incestuous love affair between Adam Walker and his sister Gwyn. It is argued that the novel via this incestuous affair is addressing the issue of the unrepresentable, what Lacan termed the “real” that lies beyond the symbolic order. It is shown that the concept of the unrepresentable has been a central theme in Auster's work throughout his career. The main theoretical foundation of the essay is Julia Kristeva's theories regarding the “abject.” A summary of Kristeva's theories is therefore offered, as well as a summary of research into the incest taboo.

The inevitable (creativity). Between the ages of seven and fifteen years, Paul had sexual intercourses with his father. He was introduced to this state of matter by pornographic photos. Described as being representations of love, and thinking as such, he accepts to imitate the depicted characters, at the request of his father. From the Laurentians to Montreal, Paul and his father "will make love" everywhere: Onboard the car, at home, in the washroom of a school... They "will make love" despite questions from a mother who seeks to know the truth and whom Paul considers too weak to help him put an end to a relationship that becomes more and more heavier. Finally, Paul is able to say "no" to his father at adolescence. / Writing incest (critic). Studying incest literature in Les Enfants du sabbat by Anne Hebert. Taboo that needs to be shut of. But can not be because of the enchanting attraction of transgression; incest is shown and is said, it uncovers itself like a souvenir which repeats, here again, itself, hides behind lust, mysticism, whereas the voluptuous relationship is disembodied. This art of expression of disappearance which is found at each level in the text (tense used in the narration, characters, space) loans also to incest its defence mechanism and censorship as the symbolical exclusion, identification to the aggressor, and the will to succeed which is initialized by the confession of the victim denounciating the crime against human nature.