Innocent seducer or innocently seduced? the role of the child incest victim

The effects of maternal support and non-support on the family concepts of sexually abused girls

“…These women will go to any length to obtain the mothering and protection they missed as children and to keep their families together. Due to having been physically or psychologically deserted as children {Barry, 1975;Lustig et al, 1966) they have strong anxiety and fear of family disintegration (de Young, 1982;Zuelger & Reposa, 1983) and a fear of abandonment (Taylor, 1984). There is a strong need to prevent abandonment and this is based on a preoccupation with the mothers' own needs.…”

“…These children are starved for attention and affection and the sexual abuse at least offers some attention and felt affection (de Young, 1982). They are conditioned to accept the sexual advances of their fathers because they have basically been courted by these men (Spencer, 1978).…”

“…Due to their low self-esteem, these women feel inadequate to carry out their roles in the family (Spencer, 1978). The daughters in these families end'up taking on the mother role and the mothers can then obtain the mothering they so desperately need (Barry, 1975;Borgman, 1984;de Young, 1982;Herman & Hirschman, 1981;Lustig et al, 1966;Spencer, 1978;Taubman, 1984;Taylor, 1984;Vander Mey & Neff, 1982).…”

“…Incest offenders are usually described as rigid, authoritarian, dominant, controlling, and somewhat paranoid (Cavallin, 1966;de Young, 1982;Gordon & O'Keefe, 1984;Herman & Hirschman, 1981;Spender, 1978;Taubman, 1984;Vander Mey & Neff, 1982). Taubman (1984) also describes them as dependent and generally irresponsible individuals.…”

“…Taubman (1984) found these women to be weak and submissive, frigid or promiscuous, and indifferent to the needs of others. Often the mothers are ill, disabled, or incapacitated (de Young, 1982;Herman & Hirschman, 1981) or absent, at least for a period of time, (Herman & Hirschman, 1981;Vander Mey & Neff, 1982). These women were often sexually abused as children themselves (Berry, 1975;Spencer, 1978).…”