Psychological profile of the female adolescent incest victim

Abstract

This research describes the personality and self-concept of the female adolescent incest victim. Subjects were 40 female adolescent incest victims, ages 12 to 18. Each adolescent completed the High School Personality Questionnaire, the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, and a brief demographic questionnaire. These incest victims were shy, expedient, guilt-prone, aggressive, realistic, and withdrawn with low drive. Low overall self-concept with less happiness and satisfaction was characteristic. These adolescents also showed more confidence about physical appearance and intellectual and school status than other aspects of self-concept. The psychological profiles of these adolescents show they had accommodated to the abuse and suggest the beginning of an orientation of learned helplessness.