Synonyms

Consanguineous sexual relationship

Definition

It is defined as the sexual activity between individuals who are genetically related.

Introduction

Incest is considered a taboo sexual activity. Incest is derived from Latin word incestus which means unchaste. It is defined as “any sexual activity between close blood relatives who are forbidden by law to marry” (Kellogg 2005). The Cambridge English Dictionary also defines incest as “sexual activity involving people who are closely related and not legally allowed to marry” (Dictionary 2017). It is a worldwide neglected social issue both in developed and developing countries. As per a recent data from developing countries like India, nearly three out of ten registered cases of rape are due to incest, and it follows an increasing trend (Verma et al. 2017). Considering its rising trend, importance, and impact on the society, WHO classifies it as a silent health emergency (Organization 2004) and is underreported because of social taboo.

Incest: A Journey Through History

Incest is declared as “prohibited degree” of relationship from Biblical period. There is a bidirectional relationship between incest avoidance behavior and taboo. Incest is discouraged and forbidden; hence, people avoid incest, which may give rise to taboo related to incest. On the other hand, because there is taboo associated with incest, people avoid incest (Wolf 2015). Incest carries many social disadvantages (e.g., breach in social harmony, sexual abuse, role-relational confusion, and cultural violation); hence, taboos are created against incest (Wolf 2015). Freudian belief was centered around spontaneous inclination of human to indulge sexually within the family, though it was strongly criticized by many researchers (Wolf 2015). Incestuous characters also appear in mythology in all ancient cultures worldwide (Oosten 2015; Serrano and Gunzburger 1983). These mythological incestuous relationships are depicted in the context of disastrous outcomes, which might have propagated taboo with incest.

Westermarck’s hypothesis contradicted the concept given by Sigmund Freud. Westermarck postulated that children, who grow together in close association, often develop aversion to sexual contact among themselves as they become adult (Morehead 1999). It maintains the integrity of the family and act as a protective barrier against incestuous sexual contacts among siblings.

Incest: Current Status Across the Globe

Incestuous relationship may be consensual or non-consensual. Non-consensual incestuous relationship amounts to rape. Victims of incest may not pursue legal or retributive actions against the family because of fear, helplessness, negative attitude, and stigma toward him or her (Fontes and Plummer 2010; Yildirim et al. 2014).

Incestuous relationship between parent-children and among siblings is prohibited legally as well as socioculturally, worldwide (Holanda Júnior 2017). In England and other Western countries, it is regarded as a cognizable offense. Both men and women, above the consenting age, are punishable according to law, even if there is consent. In India, however, incest per se is not an offense. Police can take cognizance of such cases only when the offense can be charged under Section 376 (rape), 497 (adultery) Indian Penal Code, or under the provisions of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act (Modi 2011). In the current society, some incestuous relationships are socially sanctioned in certain regions, which results in consanguineous marriages. Consanguineous marriages are still prevalent in parts of Africa, Asia, and Middle East. Across the globe, approximately 10% of children are born from parents with consanguineous marriage (Maguire et al. 2018). Consanguineous marriages more commonly happen between cousins (Hamamy 2012). Among other types of incestuous relationships, incest between father-daughter is reported to be most common followed by incest between brother-sister, sister-sister, and mother-son (Sariola and Uutela 1996).

Risk Factors for Incest

There are many risk factors that may encourage incestuous behavior. Early evidence support that overcrowding at home setting might result in breach in family member’s personal privacy, which may increase the risk of incest (Weinberg 1955). Incest aversion refers to negative attitude and feelings of an individual toward an incestuous relationship (Antfolk 2014). It has been believed that incest aversion has an important role in self-regulation and prevention of incest (Antfolk 2014). Incest aversion is stronger among the siblings if they are of opposite gender (brother-sister) than if they are of the same gender (sister-sister or brother-brother) (Holanda Júnior 2017). Similarly females are less incestuous than males due to higher incest aversion (Holanda Júnior 2017).

Incestuous relationships between fathers and daughters may be seen in families where fathers used to have a strong authoritative role and the mother is absent or having significant disability as a result of which daughter is playing the role of mother (Herman 1981).

Impact of Incest

Women who had history of incest are more likely to develop poor self-esteem and often have difficulty in close relationships (Herman 1981). Incestual practice between an adult and their child is usually considered a form of child sexual abuse and may lead to development of sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety disorder, substance abuse, borderline personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in later part of life. Incestuous relationship results in inbreeding, which has various health hazards because the expression of otherwise recessive alleles, due to homozygous states, might cause development of complex diseases and reduction in longevity (Rudan et al. 2003). Evidences support increased mortality of children born from consanguineous marriages (Rudan et al. 2003). Consanguineous marriage also increases the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss, stillbirths, early death of child, X-linked disorders, autosomal dominant disorders, mental retardation, as well as limb abnormalities (Shawky et al. 2013). The children born from incest are often at risk of developing rare recessive disorders like homocystinuria, congenital ichthyosis, deaf-mutism, retinitis pigmentosa, glycogen storage disease, cystic fibrosis, and progressive cerebellar degeneration. They are also at high risk of developing congenital organ malformations (Super 1981).

Incestuous relationship during childhood is often a traumatic experience that adversely affects the mental well-being. The cognitive behavioral and other psychotherapeutic interventions for the victims of incestuous abuse focus on understanding the traumatic stress, psychodynamics, concept of self, as well as the relational aspects with the perpetrator (Courtois 1997).

Conclusion

Due to taboo, incest often goes unnoticed and underreported, even though it is equally traumatizing like any other sexual crime. When it is socially sanctioned and resulting from consanguineous marriage, it is important to look for the health of the progeny born from the incestuous relationship.

Cross-References