Covert incest: Difference between revisions
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'''Covert incest''' (also known as '''emotional incest''' or '''psychic incest''') is a relationship between a parent and child that puts a child in the place of fulfilling adult emotional roles. It is a term strictly describing interactions between a parent |
'''Covert incest''' (also known as '''emotional incest''' or '''psychic incest''') is a relationship between a parent and child that puts a child in the place of fulfilling adult emotional roles. It is a term strictly describing interactions between a parent and child that are exclusive from sexual abuse, as they typically do not include the type of physical contact that would be considered child sexual abuse. These relationships are considered to be harmful,{{According to whom|date=September 2014}} placing the child in a position of an inappropriate emotional role. |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Jocasta complex]] |
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*[[Narcissistic abuse]] |
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*[[Parentification]] |
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* [[Parentification]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 08:12, 11 November 2014
Covert incest (also known as emotional incest or psychic incest) is a relationship between a parent and child that puts a child in the place of fulfilling adult emotional roles. It is a term strictly describing interactions between a parent and child that are exclusive from sexual abuse, as they typically do not include the type of physical contact that would be considered child sexual abuse. These relationships are considered to be harmful,[according to whom?] placing the child in a position of an inappropriate emotional role.
Description
Covert incest refers to a form of emotional abuse in which the relationship between a parent and a child is inappropriately sexualized without actual sexual contact.[1][2] Substance abuse is thought [by whom?] to be associated with covert incest.[3] The effects of covert incest are thought to mimic actual incest though to a lesser degree,[4] and Kenneth Adams, who originated the concept, describes the victims as having anger or guilt towards parents and issues with self-esteem, addiction and sexual and emotional intimacy.[2]
Covert incest was defined in the 1980s[1] as an emotionally abusive[5] relationship between a parent (or stepparent) and child that does not involve incest or sexual intercourse, though it involves similar interpersonal dynamics as a relationship between sexual partners.[1][6][7] It has also been described as a parent responding to a child's love with adult sexuality.[8] Problems between parents often facilitate covert incest; as the parents distance themselves from each other both physically and emotionally, one parent may begin focusing on their child. The child becomes the surrogate partner and source of emotional support for the parent.[9] The abusing parent may also be afraid or unable to meet their needs through a relationship with another adult.[5] Alcoholism and other substance addictions are also associated with the occurrence of covert incest.[3][10]
Covert incest occurs when a parent is unable or unwilling to maintain a relationship with another adult and forces the emotional role of a spouse onto their child instead.[5] The child's needs are ignored and instead the relationship exists solely to meet the needs of the parent[11] and the adult may not be aware of the issues created by their actions.[12]
Jungian analyst and author Marion Woodman describes psychic incest as "unboundaried bonding" in which the parent or parents use the child as a mirror to support their needs, rather than mirroring the child in support of the child's emotional development.[13] Woodman considers psychic incest to damage the internal experience of the "parental complexes," described in Jungian analysis as a combination of actual interaction with the parents and the innate mother and father archetypes; according to Woodman, when these are damaged due to covert incest, an affected individual can experience distress in their personal relationships and sexual relationships in particular.[14]
Criticisms
Critics of the concept of covert incest have claimed that the concept dramatically loosens the definition of incest, making child abuse seem more prevalent than it actually is.[11][15][16]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Jacobson M (2001). "Child sexual abuse and the multidisciplinary team approach: contradictions in practice". Childhood. 8 (2): 231. doi:10.1177/0907568201008002006.
- ^ a b Adams K (1991). Silently Seduced : When Parents Make their Children Partners - Understanding Covert Incest. HCI. ISBN 1-55874-131-3. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
- ^ a b Potter-Efron, RT; Potter-Efron PS (1990). Aggression, Family Violence, and Chemical Dependency. Haworth Press. pp. 133–135. ISBN 0-86656-964-2. Cite error: The named reference "Potter2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Herman, JL; Hirschman L (2000). Father-daughter incest. Harvard University Press. p. 125. ISBN 0-674-00270-9.
- ^ a b c Friel DL & Friel JC (1988). Adult children: the secrets of dysfunctional families. Deerfield Beach, Fla: Health Communications. ISBN 0-932194-53-2.
- ^ Love PG (1991). The Emotional Incest Syndrome : What to do When a Parent's Love Rules Your Life. London: Bantam. ISBN 0-553-35275-X.
- ^ Woititz, JG (1993). The Intimacy Struggle. HCI. p. 61. ISBN 1-55874-277-8.
- ^ Helfaer PM (1998). Sex and self-respect: the quest for personal fulfillment. New York: Praeger. ISBN 0-275-96185-0.
- ^ Morgan A & Adams K (2007). When He's Married to Mom: How to Help Mother-Enmeshed Men Open Their Hearts to True Love and Commitment. New York: Fireside. ISBN 0-7432-9138-7.
- ^ Barnard, CP (1990). Families With an Alcoholic Member: The Invisible Patient. Human Sciences Press. p. 139. ISBN 0-89885-479-2.
- ^ a b Pendergrast, Mark (1996). Victims of memory: sex abuse accusations and shattered lives. Hinesburg, Vt: Upper Access. ISBN 0-942679-18-0. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- ^ Gartner RB (1999). Betrayed as boys: psychodynamic treatment of sexually abused men. New York: Guilford Press. ISBN 1-57230-644-0. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- ^ Woodman, Marion (1993). Conscious Femininity: Interviews with Marion Woodman. Inner City Books. p. 139. ISBN 0-919123-59-7.
- ^ Woodman, Marion (1992). Leaving My Father's House: A Journey to Conscious Femininity. Shambhala,. p. 207. ISBN 0-87773-578-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ Bjorklund, David F. (2000). False-memory creation in children and adults: theory, research, and implications. Hillsdale, N.J: L. Erlbaum. ISBN 0-8058-3169-X.
- ^ Kaminer, Wendy (1993). I'm dysfunctional, you're dysfunctional: the recovery movement and other self-help fashions. New York: Vintage Books. p. 27. ISBN 0-679-74585-8.