Incest approached from a systematic perspective

M.A. (Clinical Psychology)TIle phenomenon of incest has been examined from differing perspectives over the past few decades and continues to be viewed from psychodynamic, sociological and systemic viewpoints. The past decade has seen a substantial increase in the volume of literature relating to child sexual abuse which includes incest, confirming that such abuse is a phenomenon which has become virtually endemic to our society. In its examination of incest, this dissertation attempts to, integrate intrapsychic views such as Erikson's (1950) developmental theory with more systemic orientated views such as the interactional view of Watzlawick, Beavin and Jackson (1967). Having criticised traditional views of incest, this dissertation goes further in attempting to integrate both the individual's particular perspective of the traumatic incident of incest during her childhood and how this incident affected her adult life, subsequent interactions and relationships. In integrating the apparently widely disparate approaches, this dissertation attempts to provide an alternative theoretical perspective around the phenomenon of incest. By integrating both psychodynamic (intrapsychic) and interactional (systemic) approaches, this dissertation seeks to avoid the pitfalls of rcification, distortion and reductionism. This dissertation adopted the methodology of a single case study. A clinical x interview was analysed according to Erikson's (1950) developmental stages and these stages were viewed from a systemic perspective. Erikson's developmental stages which are bipolar in nature, were proposed as double binding paradoxical contexts. As such, Erikson's views were seen as metaphors of systemic and heuristic value to the author. This dissertation hypothesised that the therapeutic system was a subsystem in interaction with the abusive subsystem and as such would reflect within its content and process the secrets and interactions of the incestuous family system. In investigating this hypothesis, the interactions between the secret incestuous subsystems and other family subsystems were examined. The findings of this work confirm the hypothesis. It is hoped that the application of this knowledge shall enable therapists and investigators to identify the possibility of incest in the narrative of adults and thereby avoid reports of incest being dismissed, avoided or clouded by scientific discussion. As such, the occurrence of incest, which is often an unmentionable secret, may be addressed and the patterns of incest identified in the initial conversation with the victim