Integrating marital and individual therapy for incest survivors: A case study.

Characteristics of male partners of adult female incest survivors

“…Until recently, and to a large extent today, where incest was involved in a relationship, the focus of treatment has been individual or group psychotherapy for the incest survivor; partners have been often excluded from the treatment process except when issues of sexual dysfunction are approached. Recently, however, proposed interpersonal, interactional, and contextual approaches to understanding the aftereffects of childhood incest and the variety of treatment modalities have generated a climate for the inclusion of families and partners in the survivor's healing process (Cohen, 1988;Courtois, 1988;Davis, 1991;Dinsmore, 1991;Johnson, 1989;Maltz, 1988). Such conceptualizations have also led to the idea that partners or other loved ones may profit from outside emotional support systems as a place to explore and ventilate intense emotions experienced during the survivor's recovery.…”

“…Many behavior patterns established as a result of the abuse may be associated with relational problems in adulthood (Johnson, 1989). One of the primary detriments to the establishment and maintenance of adult intimate relationships involves trust (Drauker, 1992;Herman, 1981Herman, , 1992Johnson, 1989;Maltz, 1988;Swink & Leveille, 1986;Weiner, 1988).…”

“…Rather than an intimate relationship, the incest survivor more typically will be in a short-term relationship (Draucker, 1992) or in a relationship characterized by minimal self-disclosure, guarded emotional involvement, feelings of defenselessness and vulnerability (Van Buskirk & Cole, 1983), lack of boundaries (Draucker, 1992), and fear of abandonment and exploitation (Herman, 1992). Adult incest survivors are described as being obedient, unassertive, passive, and submissive with a low sense of self-efficacy especially in relation to members of the opposite sex (Herman, 1992;Johnson, 1989). Because many incest survivors exhibit such characteristics and patterns of behavior, many authors have suggested that incest survivors are more likely to enter abusive, exploitative relationships in which there is a greater probability that they will be revictimized (Alexander, 1992;Briere & Runtz, 1993;Draucker, 1992;Harter et al, 1988;Herman, 1981Herman, , 1992Tsai & Wagner, 1979;Van Buskirk & Cole, 1983;Wyatt, Guthrie, & Notgrass, 1992).…”

“…Many behavior patterns established as a result of the abuse may be associated with relational problems in adulthood (Johnson, 1989). One of the primary detriments to the establishment and maintenance of adult intimate relationships involves trust (Drauker, 1992;Herman, 1981Herman, , 1992Johnson, 1989;Maltz, 1988;Swink & Leveille, 1986;Weiner, 1988). Rather than an intimate relationship, the incest survivor more typically will be in a short-term relationship (Draucker, 1992) or in a relationship characterized by minimal self-disclosure, guarded emotional involvement, feelings of defenselessness and vulnerability (Van Buskirk & Cole, 1983), lack of boundaries (Draucker, 1992), and fear of abandonment and exploitation (Herman, 1992).…”

“…Such a disruption of self-development results in identity con-fusion and self-critical/destructive symptoms. Many adult incest survivors view themselves as worthless and incompetent to care for themselves (Johnson, 1989), develop negative emotions toward self, and view themselves as being different (Downs, 1993;Harter et al, 1988).…”