{"id":17141,"date":"2013-03-11T17:57:55","date_gmt":"2013-03-12T00:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=17141"},"modified":"2026-07-13T16:58:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T20:58:23","slug":"incest","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/incest\/","title":{"rendered":"Incest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Incest is sexual contact between close family members<\/a>, and when it involves a child it is a form of child sexual abuse<\/a>. Survivors often carry shame, secrecy, and trauma symptoms into adulthood, and those responses are normal reactions to a profound betrayal of trust, not signs of weakness.
\nRecovery is possible, and trauma-informed therapy<\/a> is one of the most effective paths toward it.<\/p>\n

If you have experienced sexual abuse and need support right now, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline is free and confidential, 24 hours a day, at 800-656-4673<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Which Relationships Are Considered Incest?<\/h2>\n

Sex between any family members who are too closely related to marry is considered incest. Sex between third or fourth cousins may not be considered incest, since marriage between cousins of this degree of consanguinity is generally not prohibited. Some evolutionary psychologists believe there is an innate incest taboo preventing children raised in the same household from finding one another sexually attractive or engaging in sexual relationships. However, estimates of the crime ranging from 20% suggest that it is not fully prohibited by any gene or brain<\/a> adaptation.<\/p>\n

Incest most often, according to available statistics, occurs as a form of child abuse<\/a>. Eighty percent of underage survivors are abused by a parent. Sometimes incest occurs by choice, between adults who are of an age to consent to sex. This, however, is believed to be fairly uncommon.<\/p>\n

Most incest laws in the United States prohibit marriage or relations between siblings, parents and children, and grandparents and grandchildren. Each state defines it differently and has its own laws regarding incestuous relationships. In some states, for example, two first cousins may be allowed to marry. Sexual contact with a family member under the age of 18 is a crime in all states.<\/p>\n

Prevalence of Incest<\/h2>\n

Incest is largely underreported, and many reports have been written off as fabricated repressed<\/a> memories or otherwise called into question. This doubt, and the stigma<\/a> already surrounding incest, may be partially responsible for the reluctance of survivors to report it. Some children may not report it because the abuser has threatened them or told them what is happening is normal. They may also feel embarrassed<\/a> or ashamed<\/a> and be unsure of who to tell. Many people believe incest is rare, perhaps because it is often not reported, but study results show it to be much more common than it is assumed to be.<\/p>\n

In America, approximately 44% of rape survivors are under 18 when assaulted, and over a third of the perpetrators in these cases are family members. However, because of the aforementioned factors, the actual rates of incest are difficult to calculate and may be much higher.<\/p>\n

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Healing is possible, even decades later. A therapist trained in trauma can help you work through it at your own pace.<\/p>\n

Find a therapist<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Incest and Trauma<\/h2>\n

Non-consensual and coercive incest can cause severe psychological damage. Due to the stigma surrounding it, many of those who are victimized never report the crime, which can often prevent them from being able to process the abuse and heal from it.<\/p>\n

Some survivors repress their memories of such incidents. Doing so may help them temporarily avoid trauma and pain, but over time, they may experience concerns such as:<\/p>\n