Sibling incest: The myth of benign sibling incest

Sibling incest: The myth of benign sibling incest

Discusses incest between older brothers and younger sisters within a social context to demonstrate that the belief that incest between siblings is benign has no basis in reality. It is believed by some researchers that incest between siblings who are close in age is less harmful than other types of incest and that violence and physical coercion rarely occur in sibling incest. Two case descriptions, which refute these beliefs, of females who had incestuous relationships with their older brothers are provided. Instances of "positive" incest are reviewed, and the present author asserts that such accounts should be more closely questioned. It is significant that, in the older brother–younger sister incestuous category, sisters more often report negative reactions while brothers more often report positive reactions to the experience. Recuperation from the incestuous experience is discussed, and preventive measures are considered. (22 ref)

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General Psychology, Gender Studies