Abstract
Until recently the widespread reality of ongoing incestuous abuse during adulthood had attracted no systematic research. The scientific literature was limited to the occasional case study and brief anecdotal references. This minimal literature was supplemented by biographical works written by or about victims of this form of abuse, and by press reports. With the advent of the Josef Fritzl case there was a very marked increase in the press reporting of such abuse, which in turn provided a reference point for more fine-grained data collection and scientific reporting. This paper introduces the subject of prolonged incest via the lens of organised abuse, summarises research on incestuous abuse and draws on multiple clinical examples to elucidate the mechanisms by which such abuse merges with, or develops into, variations of organised abuse, including that centred on the family, on prostitution, or on that involving abuse networks. The abuse practices, the net-working, and the ploys used to avoid prosecution practiced by the father perpetrating ongoing incestuous abuse during adulthood have much in common with other variants of organised sexual abuse.
Highlights
Mental health researchers rarely take the lead in initially drawing attention to the existence of examples of endemic but, extreme forms of abuse existing within society
This leads into an overview of research into ongoing incestuous abuse during adulthood, seen from the perspectives arising from published press accounts of such abuse and from a clinical group of victims of such abuse
Society has begun to grapple meaningfully with child abuse at national and international levels that is unprecedented. If such a ‘tipping point’ has arrived, this paper argues that this congruently allows for the examination of one of the least researched but perhaps one of the most traumatic forms of child sexual abuse: prolonged incest; that is, where a father sexually abuses a daughter/son from childhood into adulthood
Summary
Mental health researchers rarely take the lead in initially drawing attention to the existence of examples of endemic but, extreme forms of abuse existing within society. The issue rarely devolves to one of scientific capacity It is the press, reporting in an unsystematic way and not infrequently focusing on the sensational, that initially and patchily documents the existence of the various forms of extreme abuse. The popular press had been reporting cases of incestuous abuse that extended into adulthood for the past one and a half centuries (Middleton 2014) before the first scientific study examining this far from rare phenomena via a representative group of such cases was published in recent times (Middleton 2013a). This paper draws together representative international examples of alleged or proven organised sexual abuse (mostly focused on children), some with origins dating back decades This leads into an overview of research into ongoing incestuous abuse during adulthood, seen from the perspectives arising from published press accounts of such abuse and from a clinical group of victims of such abuse. It is suggested that society’s willingness to support victims and vigorously investigate such abuses, has begun to show signs of significant change in recent times
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
