Mental health articles

Dysfunctional dynamics within families in sexual abuse Several studies have assessed general dynamics within families in which fathers abuse their children. These studies almost uniformly agree that these families exhibit high levels of overall family dysfunction, even more so than families with victims of other types of intrafamilial and extrafamilial abuse (Briere & Elliott, 1993; Draucker, 1996). These families are low in community involvement and are often socially isolated (Herman, 1981; Williams & Finkelhor, 1990). In addition, they exhibit a lack of openness, empathy, and expression of feeling (Madonna, Van Scoyk, & Jones, 1991). The overall tone of these families is described as cynical and hopeless. Other studies have found that fathers appear to have less insight into the structure of these families than mothers and children. Indeed, Milner and Robertson (1990) found that offenders viewed their children (including the victim) in a positive manner and reported few problems with them. Another study found that while fathers thought their relationship with the daughter they abused was good, mothers and daughters thought it was poor (Sagatun & Prince, 1989). This difference held up even after treatment. In fact, fathers rated the father-daughter relationship as the best within the family and the mother-father relationship as the worst, whereas victims perceived the father-daughter relationship as worst. These studies support a family systems theory interpretation that incest occurs within a dysfunctional environment. Given the nature of the studies, however, it is not certain whether the dysfunction actually precedes the abuse. Even if it were to precede the abuse, there are some important cautions concerning the dynamics. First, family systems theory posits that these dynamics are causal to incest, and no such link is as yet supported by this literature. No known prospective studies of high-risk families have been done to determine whether these dysfunctional dynamics are present before the abuse is initiated. Also, as mentioned earlier, why does only the father act out sexually? Why don’t these same dysfunctional dynamics place the mother at increased risk to commit incest? Finally, as discussed in a later section, many of these same dynamics are found to lesser degrees in families in which other types of intrafamilial abuse occurs and even in families of victims of extrafamilial abuse. Family systems theory has as yet offered no explanation for why these dynamics are also found in families with victims of other types of abuse.

Tags: sexual abuse