Father–Son Incest: Using the Literature to Guide Practice

Father–Son Incest: Using the Literature to Guide Practice

Reviews the research and clinical practice literature on father–son incest, and, as a result, develops a typology of the interactive patterns of abusive families and associated treatment suggestions. The literature describes the following types of family situations in which a son can be abused by his father: (1) homosexual families; (2) promiscuous families; and (3) physically abusive families. Alcohol abuse is addressed as a factor often linked to sexual abuse of sons by fathers. Responses of abused sons and wives of abusive fathers are discussed. The current unidimensional approach to treatment of father–son incest is criticized, and treatment approaches for each type of abusive pattern identified in the literature review are recommended.

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