On Incest: Psychoanalytic Perspectives

Incest is a universal taboo found throughout history and within myths from all societies. It has been a neglected subject by psychoanalysis in recent years and this volume aims, successfully, to promote confrontation between the past and present and to provide a clinical and theoretical reflection on the subject. Here incest is distinct from sexual abuse outside of the family nucleus. The book, inspired by the COWAP European Conference of 2003, looks at themes such as gender identity, perversions and incest. Containing papers from leading experts in the field, it includes the papers delivered at the conference plus two papers from Mariam Alizade and Brendan MacCarthy, who both present an account of the discussions as they developed during the conference. The collection deals with a number of issues that surround incest, including Freud’s work and how his outlook changed throughout the years, the post-Freudian theories, treatment of both offender and victim through traditional one-on-one and group therapy, the importance of the sex of the analyst, the permeations of the abuser/abused, and the why of incest. As well as addressing theory, the papers include moving and at times disturbing clinical vignettes to provide an insight into clinical practice.
This is a book for trainee and professional psychoanalysts, social workers, counsellors, community police officers, and any other professionals whose work brings them into contact with this distressing subject. Contributors: Mariam Alizade, Giovanna Ambrosio, Simona Argentieri Bondi, Monique Cournut, Brendan MacCarthy, Juan Eduardo Tesone and Estela Welldon