Chapter 1

Incest is not anti-biological. That is, two related persons can have coitus and pregnancy can be caused. But incest is a violation of all established social regulations in just about all societies and cultures. Few even recognize the offspring of an incestuous union.

"However much sexual ethics may differ in various forms of culture there is one law that is universal--the law of incest. Nowhere in the world is it permissible for cohabitation to take place between father and daughter, mother and son, brother and sister." declares Kenneth Walker, M.D., in Physiology of Sex. 'This law of incest existed in the past as it does in the present. It is true that in the royal families of ancient Egypt and Peru the marriage of brother and sister was customary, but this was because their families being God-like, no ordinary mortals could unite with them. But for the rest of the nation, the law of incest held. Its object was clearly to prevent the disintegration of the family. Sexual interests would put a heavy strain on the emotional and social bonds upon which the cohesion of the family depends, and sexual interest was thrust sternly outside the family circle."

The word incest is taken from the Latin: in means "not" and castus means "pure." Thus, the exact Latin word is incestum-an impure act. Sexologically speaking, incest is an impure act between two individuals who are related by blood or marriage. (Marriage relations refer to stepbrother and stepsister as well as just about all other such relations except, of course, husband and wife who were not otherwise related.)

It has been seen that in the most primitive and savage societies, in nearly all parts of the world, incest is regarded with abomination. Dr. George P. Murdock, writing in Social Regulation of Sexual Behavior, explains, "The one social phenomenon with which sexual regulation is associated in every known society is kinship. Intrafamily incest taboos are absolutely universal. In none of the 250 sample societies, nor in any other that I have ever read about, is either sexual intercourse or marriage considered permissible between father and daughter, mother and son, or brother and sister.

"Sporadic individual cases of incest crop up everywhere, of course, and in some instances incestuous unions are permitted under highly exceptional circumstances. Thus among the Azande of central Africa, certain high nobles are allowed to wed their own daughters, and brother-sister marriages were actually preferred in the old Hawaiian aristocracy and in the Inca royal family.

"The natives of Bali in Indonesia permit twin brothers and sisters to marry on the ground that they have already been unduly intimate in their mother's womb, and among the Thonga of East Africa, an important hunter, preparatory to a great hunt, may have sex relations with his own daughter--a heinous act under any other circumstances. In no case, however, are such incestuous unions common, or permitted to the general run of the population."

Mental incest may exist solely in the phantasy realm and does not transpose into actual physical relations. One such situation is related by Krafft-Ebing in Psychopathia Sexualis:

"Z., age 51, superintendent, enamoured with his own daughter since her puberty. She had to leave home and reside with relatives abroad. He was a peculiar, nervous man, somewhat given to drink, without manifest taint. He denied being in love with his daughter, but the latter stated that he acted and behaved toward her like a lover.

"Z., was very jealous of every man who ever approached his daughter. He threatened to commit suicide if she ever married, and on one occasion proposed to her that they should die together. He knew how to arrange things so that he could always be alone with her, and overwhelmed her with presents and caresses. No signs of hypersexuality. Did not keep a mistress and was looked upon as a very decent man."

There are other cases reported in which incest takes a physical action, often with a sister acting as the aggressive partner. This seems unusual when we regard the male as being the forceful agent.

Benjamin Karpman, M.D., in Sexual Offender, states, "A case that came under my observation was that of a young white male who, at the age of ten, was seduced by his older sister. When he reached puberty, the sister frightened by possible consequences, abruptly ceased the relationship. The boy later developed into an absolute homosexual. He couldn't imagine himself developing an erection and have satisfactory relations with a woman. 'I think, though, to this day, that I could develop an erection with my sister without difficulty.'"

Dr. Karpman connects-the incest urge to the homosexual drive. "In some cases their excessive devotion to their mothers is by no means an unconscious matter, but is frankly and openly admitted, even to the extent of their becoming somewhat boastful about it. It is almost as if they were to say, T can speak of my excessive love for my mother, since there is nothing sexual about it.' Having originally solved the incest problem by rejecting their mothers and, additionally, all other women, they have come to associate sex exclusively with the thought of other men. Consequently their excessive mother-love remains sexless and carries with it no reproach."

Here is one example offered by Dr. Karpman: "A patient with an unconscious incestuous attachment to his mother and a conscious incestuous attachment to his sister, with whom at the age of ten he had mutual exhibitionistic episodes, and at the age of sixteen, episodes involving the imitation of intercourse, became completely unable to achieve a normal sexual adjustment and substituted exhibitionistic activity for normal sexual relations.

"Another patient as a child engaged in various sexual familiarities with his mother while she slept, and once saw his father exhibiting his penis to his mother. His own unconscious wish was to exhibit his penis before his mother, and in this case also exhibitionistic activity became a substitute for normal sexual relations.

Inasmuch as incest is so taboo, much contact escapes public or even medical notice. "Taboo against incest is so strong that only a few of those who have experienced intimacies with immediate relatives are willing to acknowledge them," says George W. Henry, M. D., in All the Sexes. "In half of the United States the marriage of first cousins is illegal and in one state the prohibition against consanguineous marriage is extended to include second cousins. Among many ancient peoples incest was a common practice, but since the beginning of modern religions it has been vigorously condemned.

"Incestuous relations continue in spite of deep-seated fear of the probably consequences. They are not uncommon in childhood. Few persons have escaped throughts of or desire for such intimacies; the close association of siblings and of parents and children contributes to such desires."

The custom is not new. We find examples of incest in primitive legends. Greek mythology claims that Heras was both the sister of Zeus as well as his wife. The egyptian deities, Osiris and Isis-children of the earth and sky-were brother and sister and also husband and wife. Roumanian mythology tells of the marriage between the sun and his sister, Sanziana. As punishment, she was cast into the ocean and transformed into the moon. An outraged voice declared that while the two could look at each other from a distance, they could never again meet.

The most famous myth of incest concerns that of Oedipus who was said to have married his own mother. When the truth came out, Oedipus was so upset, he blinded himself while his wife-mother killed herself by hanging.

The Athenian tragic-poet, Sophocles (495-406 B.C.) wrote a play called Oedipus which is the basis of several other Greek tragedies. This particular play is concerned with the incestuous relationship between young Oedipus, son of Liaus, king of Thebes, the ancient capital of Upper Egypt, and his mother Jocasta.

The legend relates that King Laous, third in descent from Cadmus, was married to a queen who was also his cousin, indicative of still more incest. During the early reign, King Laius paid a visit to the oracle at Delphi where the high priestess told him that a warning was in store for him; the warning came from Apollo, the Greek god of Truth. Apollo had issued a prophecy that Laius would be killed by his own son. Hearing this, the king became terrified and set out to change the prophecy.

When young Oedipus' was born, the king arranged for his heir to be kidnapped, taken to a lonely mountain, shackled and left to die by the elements. After this was done, King Laius returned to Thebes, relieved and confident that he would not be killed by his son. (Years later, the king is killed, never realizing that Apollo's prophecy was fulfilled and that the truths of the oracle cannot be denied or altered.)

Meanwhile, young Oedipus was saved, taken to Corinth, a fortress city in Argolis, Greece. Here, according to another oracle, he was said to be the son of the King, Polybus. Since he was the new prince, he was raised in the palace, living the life of royalty. Oedipus made frequent visits to the oracle and was told that he, too, would kill his father. Not wishing this to happen, Prince Oedipus decided to leave home and never again see King Polybus whom he thought to be his real father. He wandered about the country and eventually came to Thebes.

During this era, the entire nation was under siege by a frightful monster, the Sphinx. This abominable creature was shaped like a winged lion, but had the face and breasts of a female. It would waylay all those who came to the city, putting forth a riddle. If the person answered, he was set free. If he could not solve the riddle, he was slain. The seven great gates of Thebes remained closed since the Sphinx might otherwise enter. Famine was rampant.

In the midst of all this, young Oedipus was challenged by the Sphinx who put to him the riddle: "What creature goes on four feet in the morning, on two at noonday, on three in the evening?"

Oedipus thought quickly and replied, "Man.. In childhood he creeps on hands and feet; in manhood he walks erect. In old age he aids himself with a staff."

The answer was correct. The Sphinx immediately killed itself and Thebes was saved. Oedipus was celebrated as the new king. He then married the wife of the dead king, namely Queen Jocasta-unaware that she was his mother. In this manner, the two of them lived in an incestuous relationship, but not with their knowledge.

At this point, it appeared that Apollo's prophecy would be false.

The two had children. Many years later, Thebes became the victim of a plague. Disaster struck. People died. Flocks and herds as well as vegetation all were destroyed. If anyone was spared immunity from disease, death was imminent by starvation. King Oedipus was desperate. He loved his people and wanted to save them.

He sent Jocasta's brother, Creon, to Delphi to ask for the gods' help. Creon returned with good news. He had spoken to Apollo who said the plague would be ended but on one condition--whoever had murdered King Laius would have to be punished. This was good news to Oedipus. He decided to seek out the killer, even though many years had passed.

He called for Teiresias, the aged sightless prophet who was the most revered and respected of all Thebans. Could he name the killer? At first, the man refused to answer and only after pressure did he make the declaration, "You are yourself the murderer you seek."

This shocked Oedipus. He decided that the old man was mad, ordered him banished from his sight. Queen Jocasta was likewise infuriated at such an assertion. She then told Oedipus about the prophecy given to Laius that he would be killed by his own son. To avoid this, they both conspired to dispose of the son that was soon born to them. "As for Laius, he was killed by robbers at the intersection where three roads meet on the way to Delphi. Now you can see that the oracle is false."

Oedipus looked at her carefully. "When did this happen?"

"Just before you came to Thebes," explained the Queen. "Laius went out with four men--all of them were killed except one." This remaining survivor was sent for to tell the story.

Now the truth came out. Oedipus told his wife that he was not the son of Polybus--the same oracle had told him that he would kill his father, marry his mother, have children who would hate him. He related how, on his way from Delphi, at the juncture where three roads join, he came upon a man with four aides. The man tried to force Oedipus from the path, "hitting me with his stick. This angered me. I fell upon them, killing them--except one man. Could it be that Laius was their leader and I killed him?"

Jocasta refused to accept this. "The one man left alive told of a band of robbers. Laius was killed by robbers-not by his son who died in infancy on the mountains."

At this time, a messenger from Corinth appeared to inform Oedipus that King Polybus was dead. When Jocasta heard this, she smiled and said, "You see, Oedipus, the oracle was wrong. It prophesied that Polybus would be slain by his son. You are his son, but you did not kill him."

Hearing the conversation, the messenger intervened with: "Ah, King, you had nothing to fear in fleeing Corinth, thinking you would slay your father. Polybus is not your father; he brought you up as though you belonged to him. It was I who found you-brought to me by a wandering shepherd who was the servant of Laius."

This news was shocking to both Oedipus and Jocasta. In the midst of all this confusion, an aged man made his appearance, introduced himself as the wandering shepherd who was given the baby Oedipus by Jocasta who begged him not to slay the child but let him live.

Now the whole truth was out. The oracle at Delphi was fulfilled. On his road journey, Oedipus had killed the man who challenged him. That man was his father. He came into Thebes, saved the city from the Sphinx, married the dead king's wife who was also his own mother. The damage had been done. A terrible curse was upon all of them.

Jocasta fled from the throne room. Throughout the palace, Oedipus tried to find the wife that was also his mother. He eventually went to her chamber to make a discovery-she was hanging from a rope, dead by self-hanging. Seeing this, Oedipus blinded himself, wishing no more to see or live.

This tragedy ends with Sophocles stating, "The black world of blindness was a refuge; better to be there than to see with strange shamed eyes the old world that had been so bright."

This legend provides the name of Oedipus Complex, so phrased to describe an individual who has a sexual interest toward his mother. The interest may be active or passive.

Another incest myth concerns that of Electra. The tragic poet-author was Aeschylus, living in Greece (525-450 B.C.). His greatest creation is the Oresteia, a three play complation. One of the plays tells the story of Agamemnon, a Greek general, slain by his wife's lover, Aegisthus. The son, Orestes, was taunted by his sister, Electra, to avenge their father's death. Orestes succeeds in killing his mother as well as her lover. This legend has created the "electra complex" term which describes a girl who has a strong father-attachment and mother-hatred. Orestes' mother was named Clytemnestra.

Despite the Grecian addiction for so-called abnormal sex acts, they abhorred incest. From Isaeus, an Attic orator and rhetorician, reputed instructor of Demosthenes, who lived from 420-348 B.C., we discover that weddings between ascendants and descendants were taboo; marriage between brothers and sisters were also forbidden. In later decades, it could be tolerated provided that the two had different mothers.

Even though, marriage between related persons was regarded with horror. There are many instances where convention was done away with. One legend deals with Caunus who loved his sister, Byblis.

Euripides (480-406 B.C.) is credited with authorship of Aeolus. Portions were destroyed but we know of an incest story based upon the narrative of Sostratus. King Aeolus had six daughters and six sons, the eldest of whom, Macareus, was in love with his sister Canace who was forced to have sex with him.

The father heard of it, sent the daughter a sword with which she killed herself. Her brother-lover used the same sword to end his life. The drama contained one pungent line: "For nothing is dishonorable or common, if only it pleases us." Hearing this, the audience was in an uproar in the theatre. This was an outrageous toleration of incest. They forced Anthisthenes to change the verse to read: "Dishonorable remains dishonorable, whether it pleases or not."

Another Greek legend tells of Harpalyce who is raped by her father and is revenged upon. Aristophanes, in Wasps, tells of Cardopion who had an incestuous relationship with his mother. These may be myths but it it is reasonable to aver that many actual cases of incest did exist in Greek life and these tales were taken from true cases.

The indisputed incest among ancient Egyptains is well known. King Ptolemy II (285-247 B.C.) after marrying Arsinoe, his own sister, took the surname of Philadelphus. As a means of keeping the dowry in the family, the law maintained that the hereditary daughter-i.e., a girl to whom the property of her parents exclusively fell, was obliged to marry whatever next of kin was available and still unmarried.

This may have helped establish Egyptain women in a ruling power. Egyptain history is filled with powerful queens. The first queens were Neit-Hetep, wife of Menes, and Mert-Ncit, wife of Usaphais. They were princesses from the Delta and brought dowries of fertile land to their husbands. The land was more precious to rulers than anything else. Egypt is credited with having set the example of a political marriage.

Dr. Gilbert V. Hamilton, author of Incest and Homosexuality, learned that many female homosexuals (lesbians) displayed very strong emotional attachments to a brother or father. Many such girls said they had been raped by an older brother and this caused an escape from normal love into female homosexuality.

The same could apply to young men who found themselves involved with their sisters in an incestuous act and made a flight into homosexuality; thus, they rejected all women and rejected incest at the same time.

Incest is frequently to blame for prostitution. Dr. Harold Greenwald, noted author of The Call Girl, maintains that willful prostitution is an attempt to act out incest phantasies. He cites the case of Georgia. At the age of 12, she and her mother, accompanied by her stepfather (the 5th marriage for the mother) were taking a motor trip. The girl's mother was driving. Gloria was in the back seat, beside her father. After a while, the girl dozed off; whe awakened when she felt her stepfather fondling her. This was just one incident. He later sought to copulate with her. When Gloria's mother discovered this unnatural attitude, she hastily divorced the man.

"Here was a symbolic incest attempt," explains Dr. Greenwald. "While the man was not Georgia's biological father he was her mother's husband, and to a child of that age this would evoke the same feeling of incest. In her fantasies, she often saw herself in a harem where she was the newest addition; she wanted desperately to please the sultan so that he would prefer her to others. Another of Gloria's fantasies was to be taken sexually against her will."

It is interpreted that this fantasy represents a displaced wish-fulfillment. A harem's sultan can possess many females. "Thus, Georgia could share the father figure with her mother and not feel guilty. Similarly, if she were taken against her will, the guilt would not be hers. The problem was to find the relationship between the first incestual approach, the fantasy and her career as call girl."

When asked if she would feel odd about having intimacies with her father, the girl made a rather surprising answer, "No. I thinks he wants to, and his money is as good as anyone's."

Dr. Greenwald offers this comment, "Being a call girl, Georgia seemed to say, gave her permission to have incestuous relations with her father. This fantasy also explains one of the unconscious functions of the fee. By obtaining a fee, she seemed to feel that she had transformed the pleasurable relationship to a work relationship."

There is much incest in our current era. Walter Bromberg in Crim and the Mind explains, "More cases occur than are brought to court. Incest between father and daughter is most frequent; even more common are relations between father and step-daughter."

Dr. Manfred S. Guttmacher, in Sex Offenses, makes this observation. "Statutory rape and incest show a high correlation with the culture level of the social group. In lower socio-economic levels, incest is more common than is thought. Many cases do not come to the attention of the police. Brother-sister incest is most common. Mother-son relations are rare, father-daughter relations are more common."

The very act of incest requires it to be very discreet and under cover; if a situation is exposed, it is usually due to a certain problem arousing out of the relationship. For example, a daughter who is repelled about it, will confess about her father's attempts to violate her to the mother who then takes action. Or, a girl becomes pregnant and now the truth cannot be hidden-her own father is named as the man responsible for her "aborning" child. There are times when neighbors or relatives hear about incest and they promptly notify the authorities. There are situations when a doctor hears of it and his aid is enlisted.

Incest is an abnormal type of behavior that can be easily concealed and there are many cases that are never reported; even if the authorities are notified, the charge is disguised as "contributing to the deliquency of a minor" or "rape" which does not take into consideration the possibility that both partners were willing.

S. Kirson Weinberg, M.D. in Incest Behavior, tells of 203 cases of incest. The doctor found that these four combinations existed among the incest-practicing cases: 159 were father and daughter; 37 were brother and sister; 2 were mother and son; 5 were father and daughter as well as brother and sister.

Were these people of a depressed economic status? 5.9% were comfortable. 19.2% were middle-class. 55% were lower class.

The average father was 43.5 years. The average daughter was 15.3. Brothers were about 24 and the sisters with whom they had sex were about 19.3 years old, on an average.

As for intellectual status, the average father had 5 years of formal schooling. 14% had no education and were illiterate. 81.7% received between one and eight years of schooling. 4.3% had high school education. None of them went to college.

As for brothers who had incestuous affairs with their sisters, they were reported to have received more education than their fathers. The daughters concerned showed that 69.1% were in the 5th through 8th grade stage.

64.3% of the fathers were either dull or below normal intelligence. 26.5% had average intelligence. 9.2% were of above average intelligence.

These figures tell us that incest occurs in families of good education and background as well as less fortunate families.

Incest taboo laws are man-made; that is, they are not contrary to nature or instinct and this creates a problem. Dr. Ashley Montagu is Man: His First Million Years, declares, "The origin of the incest prohibition has puzzled anthropologists for many years, and there, have been many theories. The most widely accepted is that incest was an artificially created dislike designed to encourage marriages outside the group. It is assumed that the prohibition is very ancient, and that what it was designed to achieve was to place members of one's own group in that of a neighboring group to act, as it were, as ambassadors."

Speaking psychiatrically, the responsible factors center on the Oedipus complex theory. Formulated by Freud (General Introduction to Psycho-analysis), he said, "The first choice of object of mankind is regularly an incestuous one, directed to the mother and sister of men, and the most stringent prohibitions are required to prevent this sustained infantile tendency from being carried into effect."

Social workers report that incest, rather, the urge for incest, may rear itself in areas where poor living conditions and crowded housing dominates. This is understood when we note that in conditions of impoverishment, groups must sleep together-i.e., father and daughter, brothers and sisters are put together. A lack of privacy leads to exposure of sex organs and interest is stimulated.

In other situations, a father or brother drink too much; under the influence of alcohol, they violate daughters, sisters, as well as any other accessible relation. Freud found that the abnormal tensions and twisted urges of the psychotic and neurotic are to blame for incest.

When apprehended, confinement in prison is generally recommended. This is not necessarily a cure, but it appears to be a wise course of action when combined with competent psychiatric treatment. Whether it will be successful is something much too individualized to predict. It must be remembered that incest does not violate biological law--only man-made law. This is the root of the incest compulsion.

Drs. Eberhard and Phyllis Kronhausen, co-authors of Pornography and The Law, have these comments to make: "For the present, nobody is able to quote meaningful figures on the prevalence of incestuous sex activities in the American community. By methods of indirect proof, one can only arrive at the conclusion that it is not nearly as uncommon as is usually assumed. One of the few statistical datum which we do have on the matter does originate in the Kinsey studies. From this source we learn that approximately 16% of all sexual approaches by adult males toward pre-adolescent girls were made by relatives, among whom uncles were the most conspicuous single source of contact."

Dr. Weinberg points out that at one time, in Chicago, out of 72 cases of female delinquency brought to Juvenile Court 32% were charged with incestuous affairs with their own fathers.

Dr. Kronhausen emphasizes, "It also appears, from the clinical experience of psychoanalysts, working mostly with individuals from the highest socio-economic levels of society, that incest behavior of one kind or another (for example, fondling, 'sexy' kissing, manipulation of the genitals, petting, and in some instances, complete coitus) is frequently present in the histories of uper-class individuals."

Numerous authors have also talked about incest in themes of their writings. Thomas Mann's novel, The Holy Sinners and his short story, Blood of the Wolsungs, deal with this abnormal behavior. Shakespeare's drama also alude to incest. His famed Antony and Cleopatra is well-known for this theme. Schiller's Don Carlos is also based upon the incest theme.

Freud established the hypothesis that all children in infancy, display a strong Oedipus and Electra complex-strong attachment for mother and father. This complex diminishes and at about the age of six, it disappears. If it still remains, it is regarded as "fixed", tending to alter the normal development of the libido. Much of the sexual response remains in this so-called infantile pattern and is carried over into maturity in a predominant urge.

This understanding is offered by D. Mercer in They Walk in Shadow, "Sometimes, particularly when a father and daughter are involved, the act of incest may be accompanied by sadistic or masochistic manifestations. Sexual intercourse between brother and sister may range from simple animal lust induced by propinquity to the most tender and sentimental devotion.

"In one such case involving mother and son, the son was plainly a degenerate type. The mother's somewhat unwilling participation, accompanied by a strong feeling of guilt, was induced by the exaggerated fear of losing the son's interest and attention.

Mr. Mercer emphasizes, "Inter-family rape is a more or less commonplace happening which may there-after result in a completely mutual relationship prolonged, sometimes, over a term of years. The seduction of a daughter by the father is always apparently, 'statutory rape' when such a case appears in the courts; the participation of the daughter is seldom the result of forcible seizure."

One cited case concerns a father who had an illicit relationship with his 9-year old daughter. They continued sex until she was 17 with her complete approval. At this time, she fell in love with a young man and the truth about the incestuous relationship was revealed. The young boy friend sought out legal help. The offending father was charged in incest, sentenced to prison for ten to twenty years!

A contrasting case concerns a 16 year old daughter who functioned as mistress to her father. Somehow, the mother found out, sued for divorce. The daughter refused to appear as a witness against the father which meant that there could be no prosecution for incest.

The parents parted. The girl left for a distant state where she took up residence and established a home. In due time, her father joined her. Both took assumed names and new identities. To all outward appearances, they had met as strangers. They married and since then are living as husband and wife.

J. D. Mercer asks, "Is sexual contact between brothers, mutual masturbation or some alternate experimental technique being employed, to be considered as incestuouses relation? Is it necessarily evidence of any homosexual predisposition? The adopted classifications have little to say about this, or about any other adolescent or imitative procedure involving a groups of boys, not at all rare in the history of the sexual initiate."

Louis S. London, M. D., in his classic Sexual Deviations, tells of a young man who participated in sexual relationships with his own sister when little more than a young boy. During childhood, the two had sex play. In puberty, his sister (five years his senior) lured him into actual coitus.

The young man said, "When I was small, between ages of 3 and 6, I used to sleep in the same bed with my sister. After the age of 6, I had my own bedroom. At the age of 6, I indulged in sexual play with my sister. She was about 11. She asked me to fool with her. I fondled her between the legs with my finger. We played this way frequently.

"At the age of 15, I had my first sexual intercourse with my sister. She was 20. She was in her room, lying on her bed nude. There was no one else in the house. She called me into her room and told me to play with her breasts. She then induced me to get on top of her and put my penis into her vagina. I ejaculated, but withdrew in time. I had intercourse with her four different times and once I ejaculated into her vagina. The last time I had sexual intercourse with my sister was at the age of 20."

Under analysis, this young man displayed overt homosexual desires which found escape into incestuous relationships with his sister. During active homosexual participations, he preferred that of fellatio, adopting the aggressive role, by receiving the partner's erect phallus within his oral cavity and by means of friction, inducing the partner's orgasm. There were times when he sought to simulate the feminine role-that is, having his partner insert the erect appendage into his anus which became a vagina, to so speak.

Dr. London relates that this young man admitted having homosexual relations with a fellow office worker who then had coitus with his sister while he waited in the adjoining room. Dr. London's analysis: "Receiving orally the penis of a man who inserted the same penis into his sister's vagina, can be construed as a vicarious form of sexual relations with his sister at the fantasy level.

"This is in keeping with what actually took place with his sister in earlier years. Apparently he is masochistic by nature as his desire is to please his sexual partner rather than to be gratified himself."

Considering the existence of the mother and father complexes, caution must be exercised to prevent ignition of the incest urge. How many psychological attitudes in the home be improved? Dr. O. Spurgeon English suggested this plan in Sex and Human Love:

1. The child should have warmth from the mother. With the warmth, the mother should combine affection so that the male in particular has memories of pleasant experiences with women and will want to re-establish ties of intimacy with women later in life.

2. He should have a sexual enlightenment free of taboos or disgust in relation to heterosexual union.

3. He should have the interest of a man during his growth, so that he identifies himself with masculine attitudes particularly those pertaining to responsibility and home formation, including a satisfaction in parent-hood. The first and second rules apply for women. Third, she should have from early life the warm interest of a man so that she feels a kinship with the life of a man.

It is known that in numerous family situations, the father ignores the daughter or regards her as rof less interest than he would a boy. It is no surprise that some women cannot like men or get along with them. If a girl is raised in an environment lacking a balanced affection from both parents, her entire sexual outlook may become warped.

The value of this intelligent norm of behavior is increased by Dr. Manfred S. Guttmacher's comment in Sex Offenses:

"It should be added to Dr. English's admonitions that there is the danger from the parent, often getting too little emotional satisfaction from life, who puts too much, and often the wrong kind, of emotional investment in the child. As Freud put it, 'Excessive parental tenderness surely becomes harmful because it accelerates sexual maturity and also because it spoils the child and makes him unfit to renounce love temporarily or to be satisfied with a smaller amount of love."

"This factor of overprotection accounts in part for the great numbers of emotionally immature and dependent persons that we have in our society."

Dr. Guttmacher noticed that these individuals cannot acquire sexual maturity; he urges parents to avoid mentally seducing their offspring. "They create an Oedipal type of conflict that in most cases is never satisfactorily resolved and which results in permanent emotional and sexual crippling."