Exploring the evolutionary, psychological and social mechanisms that discourage sexual relationships between close relatives, and how grooming, trauma and secrecy can circumvent these protections.
Incest Avoidance
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Core Concepts
The Incest Taboo
Delving into why almost every culture prohibits sexual relations between kin, how taboos are constructed and weaponized, and how secrecy around incest can both protect and harm survivors.
The History of Incest
Exploring the shifting landscape of laws, taboos and cultural narratives that have defined incest across time, so survivors can contextualize their experience and see that silence and denial have deep historical roots.
Incest Defined
A compassionate exploration of what legally, psychologically and relationally qualifies as incest, why definitions matter, and how clarity can free survivors from shame and confusion.
Core Concepts of Incest Abuse
Before we can unearth and heal from incest trauma, we need clarity on what it is, why it persists, and how it has been hidden. This article introduces the core concepts that define incest abuse and provides historical, cultural, and theoretical frameworks for understanding it.
What is Incest Trauma?
Incest trauma is not a single event but an entire environment, one where love, safety, and danger collide, leaving lifelong impacts on the brain, body, and sense of self.
Unique Dynamics of Incestuous Abuse
Understand why incest trauma feels different, and why healing from it requires a different kind of compassion.
Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist or mental health professional. I am a trauma survivor. If you need help, please seek the services of a licensed professional (see my Resources Page for suggestions). The contents of this website are for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Information on this page might not be accurate or up-to-date. Accordingly, this page should not be used as a diagnosis of any medical illness, mental or physical. This page is also not a substitute for professional counseling, therapy, or any other type of medical advice. Some topics discussed on this website could be upsetting. If you are triggered by this website’s content you should seek the services of a trained and licensed professional.