Polyincestuous Families

Abstract

Forty-eight polyincestuous families were examined to determine the characteristics of this type of sexual abuse and subcategories of polyincest. The mean number of perpetrators per family was 3.3, and the mean number of victims 2.7. Almost 40% of perpetrators were female. Five families had only male victims, 19 only female, and 24 both male and female victims. In 71% of cases, there were offenders from both within the nuclear family and the extended family. In approximately 60% of cases, there were victims or offenders from outside the family who were involved in the sexual abuse. In more than a third of cases, there appeared to be a belief system supporting incest, and in about 40% victims seemed to find something positive in the sexual abuse. Forty-five of the cases could be classified into one of three categories, based on some perpetrator characteristics: (a) offenders: a mother and a father figure; (b) offenders: male relatives; and (c) offenders: a mother figure, a father figure, and others.