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Abstract

Sexual abuse of infants, children, and adolescents remains a cataclysmic phenomenon in all societies and cultures in the world. Sexual abuse by a family member is a subset of this perplexing problem which has historical roots dating back to the dawn of human civilization. This reflection provides a context on this unfortunately common phenomenon in all cultures with major psychological consequences for the pediatric victim that lasts a lifetime. Prevention is the key to this tragedy and long-term therapy for the child or adolescent who has had this sacred trust destructively broken by a family member (s).

Keywords: Childhood, adolescence, family, abuse, neglect, incest

Introduction

Sexual abuse of infants, children, and adolescents remains an unfortunate tragedy in all societies in the world (1). In this discussion we focus on intra-familial sexual abuse or incest (child incestuous abuse) that, as noted by the story of the Old Testament figure, Lot, has a history that dates back to the dawn of human civilization:

Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children-as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father." That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I slept with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she...

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