The Impact Of Incest

Possible Effects On Victims of Sexual Abuse: The effects are many and may show up in various forms and at various stages of your life. These effects may vary according to your age, the connection between you and the perpetrator, the nature of the abuse, the duration and frequency of the sexual abuse, the degree of violence involved, the reactions of those around you to revelations of the abuse, and the help available to you. Many women and men are attempting to deal with the effects of sexual abuse, both recent and long ago occurrences.

Whether a sexual abuse happened to you recently or years ago, it has certain effects, some of which are common to a majority of the victims, others more specific to the victim's situation.You May Experience: Physical problems such as headaches, fatigue, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy, and various injuries. Psychological problems such as sadness, depression, guilt, feelings of anger and rage, fears, low self-esteem, shame, discouragement, suicidal thoughts, and self mutilation. Sexual problems such as a lessening of desire or becoming overly sexual, pain during intercourse, or disgust with sexual matters. Sexual addiction and deviant sexual behaviors are quite common among incest survivor victims.Difficulty in relationships with your spouse, friends and family. Frustration and anxiety which may arise from the judicial process, the trial and court testimony. Economic, social or family problems; difficulty at work, rejection by friends, a stay in a shelter or crisis center, loss of income. Dependency problems; drugs, alcohol, gambling or medication. Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.

All of the above mentioned symptoms can occur over a long period of time, beginning either immediately after the abuse or many years later.

What Triggers us to develop abnormal behavioral habits? Psychology is the science & study of the mind and human behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand behavior and mental processes by researching and establishing both general principles and specific cases. For many the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society. Psychologists attempt to understand the role of mental functions in individuals and social behavior while also exploring the physiological and neurobiological processes that underlie certain functions and behaviors. Why do we behave in a certain way? What triggers us to develop abnormal behavioral habits? The most basic theory of Psychology teaches us that 70% to 80% of a human being's mind, behavioral patterns and personality are formed & crystallized in the first 7 years of our childhood life. Therefore, it can be stated with great conviction that whatever dramatic or influential events which we are exposed to during our early childhood years shall have a profound impact on us later on in our adult life.

Sexual assault & incestuous abuse is often an emotionally painful experience that strikes at the heart of a person's identity & well- being causing long term detrimental effects. Sexual assault & incestuous abuse interferes with fundamental rights, notably the right to bodily security and inviolability, and also to physical & psychological security. A sexual assault or incestuous abuse is an act that aims to impose the perpetrators desires on another person through the abuse of power, through the use of force or constraint, or through implied or explicit threats. In 2% of cases the perpetrator is an older female abusing a much younger boy. If you like me were assaulted by an older woman during your childhood, you may not consider it a sexual assault & although not all victims are affected the same way, eventually the consequences of the abuse will manifest itself in a negative fashion.