Incest
Incest is the participation in sexual activity with, or marriage to, a close family member. Not only is this activity generally considered taboo and immoral, it is usually a criminal offence. Marriage and sexual behaviors are generally treated with the same consequences.
The place where the cultural differentiation occurs is in the definition of ‘close family member’. Some jurisdictions consider only those related by birth, some those related by adoption or marriage, while others prohibit sexual relations between people who grew up in the same households. In Western society the normal forbidden relationship line is drawn at first cousins, while anything further away is tacitly accepted.
In terms of slang or common usage, ‘incestuous’ can also refer to relationships in tight knit social groups, inappropriate close relationships between an authority figure and a subordinate, or between people in the same profession or creative field.
Incest finds it roots in historical creation mythology, and in social practices of societies all around the world. At the same time incest’s prohibitory social nature arises not only from our religious roots, but, as we will see, a biological imperative.
Western Society
Many American states recognize two separate degrees of incest, the more serious degree covering the closest blood relationships such as father-daughter, mother-son and brother-sister, with the less-serious charge being pressed against more distantly related individuals who engage in sexual intercourse, usually down to first cousins.
Despite the strong stigma attached to incest, even the more serious charge is generally prosecuted as the least severely-punishable class of felony (in New York state for example, the maximum penalty is four years in prison), and the less serious charge is usually only a misdemeanor. Curiously, many incest laws do not expressly proscribe sexual conduct other than vaginal intercourse (such as oral sex) or, for that matter, any sexual activity between relatives of the same gender - so long as neither party is a minor. This does not mean that the social ostracization that can occur as a result of such activities is not far greater than the punishment of the state.
This lenient legal position is in stark contrast with that in Australia, where incest is punishable by a maximum of 25 years imprisonment for the more serious form of penetrating a child (even if that “child” is over 18), and 5 years for the less serious charge of sexual penetration of a (half) brother or (half) sister.
Incest at its most immoral (according to western moral standards) is most frequently engaged in by parents of both sexes with their children. This is where incest can cross the line between consensual prohibited sex, and abusive pedophilia. A study by Floyd Martinson found that 10-15% of college students have had a childhood sexual experience with a brother or sister.
One of the few widely, but by no means universally, agreed upon lines in the sand is that incest by parents is abuse and should be discouraged. Despite this sentiment some societies still consider incest an inescapable fact of life. In many societies some forms of sexual contact between close family members is socially (and sometimes even publicly) acceptable and even encouraged.
Reasons for the Taboo
In looking at the motivation behind societal proscriptions against incest, it is important to look more for the general rules and less at the particular situation. Anthropologists studying the "incest taboo" have noticed that incest occurs in most societies, whether or not there is a prohibition against that activity; so the question of why we have societal rules against it in the first place becomes more important.
To more closely examine this question we will look at the three most prominent origin theories, and their counters of the incest taboo.
Genetic Argument
This theory is based on the observance of congenital birth defects caused by inbreeding. Anthropologists reject this explanation, as inbreeding does not lead to congenital birth defects per se; it leads to an increase in the frequency of homozygotes( in layman’s terms: the passing on of bad genes, magnified because people with similar genetic codes will have similar genetic defects).
Counter to this theory’s reasoning is that homozygote’s can lump potential defects together, effectively reducing the amount of defects in the population, and thus making it beneficial for the species. For example: if children born with this type of heritable birth defect die (or are killed) before they reproduce, the ultimate effect of inbreeding will be to decrease the frequency of defective genes in the population.
Another interesting note worthy of mention is that sexual stimulation has become a passtime; ie. its not just for making kids anymore.
Social Argument
Claude Lévi-Strauss has argued that the incest taboo is in effect a prohibition against same-group relationships (endogamy), and the effect is to encourage relationships outside the group (exogamy). Exogamy promotes the linking of otherwise unrelated households or lineages, thus strengthening social solidarity.
This theory was debated intensely by anthropologists in the 1950s. It appealed to many because it used the study of incest taboos and marriage to answer more fundamental research interests of anthropologists at the time about the mapping of social interactions. One of the primary dissenting opinions regarding this particular theory is about the origins of the social interaction. Since society has many different purposes and definitions around the world, how can the incest taboo be only a result of social bonds, when the taboo exists in places where socialized, cosmopolitan types communities don’t exist?
Religious Argument
Finally, there is a lot of belief that the incest taboo finds its origins in Judeo-Christian religious text. The biblical prohibitions against incest are quite pronounced and prolific. They appear in every major mono-theistic text for the last 4000 years. Some have even attempted to use this theory to explain the incest taboo in places where western-monotheistic religions didn’t exist. By looking at the silk trade and other influences of western society upon non-western groups, some experts have argued that this tenet was specifically strong and imprinted itself on other cultures.
This theory gains some legitimacy when used in conjunction with the above theories. If there is a social and biological imperative to avoid incestuous relationships, then any institutionalized and supposedly legitimate prohibition against such acts would be easily accepted.
Historical Incest
Ancient Egypt
There seems to be good evidence from experts (Egyptologists and historians on the subject) that suggest incestuous marriages were widespread during some, if not all of Egyptian history. This claim is supported by numerous papyri that recorded families having brother/sister unions. Apparently our cultural acceptance of the incest taboo led to academic skepticism by some, who felt it unlikely that the papyri actually were asserting that such a powerful civilization as Egypt, would have allowed the common violation of this taboo. This doubt in the validity of the records of common incestuous relationships has collapsed completely in the face of the cumulative evidence of scores of papyri.
There does appear to be legitimate doubts as to how long common incest occurred for in Egyptian history. There is evidence to suggest that at least within the royal family there was a tradition of hyper-gamy for men. This is where a king or his son might marry a commoner, but his daughter could not marry beneath herself, without the act be considered degrading. As a result, the royal princess often found herself either marrying her royal brother, or living her life without a spouse. Thus we see that incest may have been more ubiquitous amongst the lower classes or for women, than for higher stationed men. Proximity and lack of choices may in some instances have been the root of these widespread inter-family relationships.
Royal Dynasties
It is common knowledge of the prevalence of incest within royal families, and to some degree this is true. Adult incest within (European specifically) royal dynasties was probably encouraged to concentrate wealth and political influence within the family. This seemed to have worked financially but there is empirical evidence to suggest that at the same time this resulted in abnormally high instances of rare genetic defects and diseases.
Although the marriage unions were often not consensual, with young adults or children forced to marry close relatives, this does not imply the sex was non-consensual. Best known for this practice, which included brother-sister marriages, are some of the dynasties of Ancient Egypt (as suggested above), ancient Hawaii, and the Pre-Columbian Mixtec.
More modern dynasties where there was frequent familial intermarriage were the mid-Habsburgs - one branch ruled over Spain and the other over Austria. The Spanish branch died out in 1700, but the last Spanish Habsburg king, Carlos II had been married to María-Luisa of Orleans, grand-daughter of King Charles I of England and niece to King Louis XIV of France. However, over the last century, Kings Philip II, Philip III, and (for his second time) Philip IV all married their Austrian cousins. The Austrian branch continued to rule until 1918, and they are still alive and prospering today.
Is Incest Wrong?
As with most questions of this nature, we at SexInfo101.com believe it is a question that has no answer. We acknowledge that there are reasons many prefer to avoid the practice, but at the same time we acknowledge that there isn't very much evidence to support it being wrong.
Did you even read his statement? As his STEP-mother, she isn't even related to him. How can lusting after her be bad? The only thing that would be bad is if he acted on it.
In my opinion incest is distasteful and disgusting. It's just ghetto! It's fun role playing that way, you know [which has been my fantasy since my boyfriend is way older than me, not* because I like my dad in that sort of way. That would be just fucked up]... But that [your non-blood-related boyfriend] is your "other father/mother" know what I mean?
I don't know I always hear about people getting rapped by they're fathers, or uncles, some times even aunties... it's sad. The only way I can think of a daughter ever falling in love with her dad is because he brainwashed her into loving him etc. It's sick!!!! I got nothing else to say, that's just nasty. PERIOD.
With age comes moderation. When younger, I was staunchly against anything even resembling incest. Partly from religious beliefs (which may or may not have valid origins), and largely belief that it could result in degenerative effects (debatably unproven).
All I can say is, examine where your attitudes and beliefs come from. Often times they come from accepted values and beliefs rather than logical and unprejudiced thinking. Sure, don't just use the weak logic that if it feels good do it, but at the same time, don't accept things just because they've always been so.
Paedophilia is a definite wrong to me, and for strong logical reasons. But incest between consenting adults is a different matter.
There's only two issues I have with sexuality. Paedophilia is of course one. The other is, when does a person become an adult? In many non-western societies, adulthood begins much earlier. Often too comes the person's mature attitudes towards a range of things. So perhaps in those societies, adult choices a younger ages are acceptable.
But in our western societies, people mature much later and often make very immature choices well past any legal age (and not just about sex). But that's another topic.
To my mind, the only downsides to incest between consenting people are these: 1. The negative backlash socially. And 2. That it could create a hunger in one or both parties that could thwart other possible relationships down the track.
I feel so sorry for the people who have experienced this, whether because it was a family normality or a deep desire. Some things are simply wrong, and we have to resist them no matter what, not just for the sake of morality, but because it is extremely harmful to anyone involved. Feelings can be fought and supressed, we are not their slave. We can escape from the things that will hurt us in the future. There is no good excuse to engage in such horrible acts. Find someone you can talk to if you want to find the root of the problem. Sex is not meant for family.
You people who object to incest do realized that when you marry somebody, they are part of your family by definition? People need to specify that they are talking about blood relations.
the only thing i've done with my cousin was make out with her. i would love to go down on her but i need tips on how to do it or how to get her to do it to me.
Personally i know a incest brother and sister. He used to be my ginger friend but he started havin some wierd fetishes about penguins n hes sister so i ran away from him after i caught him n hes sister performin anal sex to eachother :|. iv recently found out that incest is common in hes family n that they frequently hav massive orgys at family get togethers!
I keep finding myself really attracted to my mother. I don't want to say anything because of obvious consequences but I just want to bury my face in her pussy...
u naughty shit, stop thinkin them forts ther not good 4 u lmao
omg i've been feeling the same way about my sister and 2 of my cousins!
wait, im a girl, does that make me gay?
If u like guys as well it makes u either bi or bi-curious. I had the same problem deciding which one I was. The way to tell is can u picture yourself dating a member of the same sex? Holding hands and making out possibly getting married? If you can ur bi if not n u just wanna bury ur face in their pussy ur bi-curious. Hope thy helps.
I believe that is nasty y would u won't to have sex with ur brother r sister r ur parents just anyone in ur family period is jus really nasty to me
agreed
In a biological sense incest can be very dangerous. To a certain degree it is beneficial to the survival of a species, but on whom you couple with is a different matter. I have seen first hand some of the effects of incest in both humans and animals alike...it's not a pretty sight. If one has sex with a relative, it's is simply sex (in the biological sense, cultural is a different story all together). I measure the danger of incest with "the closer to home, the closer to danger." In my view the incest is immoral, but it's thier choice. Incest should never be practiced for reproduction, that's all I got to say about that. You can deal with your families attidute, your culture/religion's attitude towards incest on your own.
i am not going to say it exactly, but I did have oral sex with my elder sister many a times when we a bit younger. We did it more for fun, were always clean after a bath and never penetrated.But it turned out that it was fun especially when we experimented in the 69 position. Nothing came of it as I just tasted her juices and she tasted my cum. Occationally now we still do the same thing..she is now married..and she says that I still taste the same as 5 years ago...
when i was 16, i had a huge crush on my first cousin. we played strip card games which ended up with both of us getting naked, but she would always hide her body from me at the end. she knew i could look at her at any point and still made no attempt to cover up. she would disagree with playing a strip game before we had started but still went willingly ahead with it. she doesn't admit she likes in that way at all, but i find it hard to believe her. she is three years younger than me. what does anyone else think??
personally, i wouldnt sleep with my family members, they're not my type. but as far as anyone else is concerned...its their business. i bet every single one of you out there has done SOMETHING that someone else disagrees with, or even finds discusting.
yes, i am talking to all the haters who posted before me about incest being "immoral" or "gross"
think about that before you go judging other people for what they choose to do behind closed doors.
im not one to judge and i wish i knew more about the topic cause i never knew that it was such a thing. i support gay rights and things like that. i have 2 sisters so im not really attracted to them. they annoy me :) ha. i did get hit on by my cousin once, i on accident. But i never realized how it really effects people. so... i kinda just wanted to say sorry for past judgment... im so lame ha
We are programmed to survive.
So we're programmed to reproduce, and indulgent sex is the way to keeping the human race alive.
Experimentation is okay,however having incestuous sex knowing there is ALWAYS a risk of pregnancy is wrong.
Love isn't an ideal, its hormones and chemical reactions.we are the animals we deny that we are.
Incestuous love isn't love,its indulgent and abnormal considering the health risks and come on, were we designed(not saying this in a religious way) to procreate with children, animals and relatives?
if I recall , 20% of autistic children in great Britain are the fruit of incestuous couplings?? ( cousins-cousins)
I have had a relationship with my first cousin. It was telephone and internet, but we were very specific about what we wanted from each other. We had wonderful sex and it was very uninhibited. We spoke every day while she used different dildoes, etc. Anyone else been there?
My cousin and I became very close while she was planning a family reunion. We live in different states, but in our conversations, she asked me what I thought about kissing cousins. In any event we became cyber lovers and telephone lovers also. It was great! We are both married and she wanted me to leave my wife and go with her. That wasn't possible for me. She had no children. Has anyone else run into the same situtation?
I think it's detestable to do things like this. I could never imagine my brother or father in that aspect :\. I'm not trying to judge anyone because technically everyone in the world is related in some way or another believe it or not. But incest is def not for ME.
In my opinion no parent should take advantage of a child for some momentary bit of pleasure. The children cannot think rationally or protect themselves when faced with the demands of an adult so important to them. Brother/sister experimentation probably happens quite a bit. All these forms of incest need not, but probably do, lead to psychological difficulties later in life. Strong feelings of resentment can grow in the abused child as it matures. Accusations of incest often pop up many years later during family arguments with devastating consequences. It's just not worth the potential damage to your child's psyche or your own reputation. Don't do it.
I believe that the feelings of resentment and guilt come from society. It is society that is saying this is bad and you are evil for even thinking of it. I do agree that a parent/ child relationship is wrong when the child is still a minor, but if after the age of consent, if those parties want to engage in a sexual relationship then have at it. I don't think that society or religion ( another big one) should have ANY role or say in sex and relationships. Love is love. As long as both parties are down for it, then have some fun. It is the guilt that society and religion puts on people that causes all the psyco sexual issues later on in life.
When I was a teenager I had wet dreams about haveing sex with my mother. ??????????
thats effing creepy T_T
Sigmund Freud was a psychologist/psychoanalyst who believed that everyone had a complex over their opposite sex parent: The Oedipus Complex for men regarding their mothers, and the Electra Complex for women regarding their fathers (had something to do with penis envy, as I recall, correct me if I'm wrong).
If the complex (or, in Freud's terms, the "fixation") was not resolved, it would lead to later problems in life (usually sexual in nature).
Dreams are wonderful and uninhibited. They reveal what is in the subconscious mind. Embrace your dreams!
I am a virgin at 50 years old. I am not physically attractive, weighing around 98 pounds at 5’ 8” tall. Despite that, I am very sexually active. I masturbate routinely while imagining sexual situations including intercourse with my mother, visualizing her as a young woman. As a teen, I would often listen, and sometimes watch my mother and her boyfriends having sex, while hiding underneath her bed or in her closet. Another source of physical stimulation was sniffing either my mother’s or sister’s soiled underwear during masturbation. The closest I got to actual sex with another person and incest happened during a cross-country drive when my older sister needed to pee. It was night and we were many miles between towns. My sister relieved herself in a thermos in the back of our van. Not long after, I snuck back and found the thermos. In the dark, I drank its contents and afterwards humped a rolled up sleeping bag until I had a fiery orgasm! As a teen or young man, If given the opportunity, I would have loved taking my mom. She was a very pretty woman. If incest is between two consenting adults and kept private, I personally see nothing wrong with it.
I....uh....no comment
agreed..but personally i dont believe one word of that especially drinking your sisters pee out of a thermos if you were between towns she would have went outside
I have never had my penis inside my sister, but wow, I would love it. When we were younger, we did some oral a few times. Nothing to crazy.
Anyone who wants to have sex with a sibling or even a cousin is disgusting and wrong.
Theres no buts about it, even kissing is disgusting.
I could never imagine doing that with my brother, i'd die before i ever did that.
gross!
I seem to remember not too long ago, and even now that there were people like you who thought homosexuality was "disgusting and gross" but now its bcomming acceptable in todays society so why dont you hold your immature and sever comments to yourself so you dont offend people. you are entitled to you opinion but within reason and in appropriate language.
Thank you for saying this. People need to be more respectful of other's opinions, and I'm glad that I'm not the only one pointing it out.
I am stunned and sickened that so many people seem to be supporting incestuous relationships, as long as they are using protection and it isn't pedophilia. This is absolutely insane.... Brothers sleeping with sisters? Not only does it clearly cross boundaries and lines, but it is immoral and disturbing.
I personally find it distasteful (I could NEVER do anything of the sort with my half-sister) but some others do not. And before you talk moral highroad here, just remember one simple fact.
One person's morals and another person's morals are not one in the same. Your idea of "immoral and disturbing" could very well be different from mine (and most likely is).
I'm not proud to admit it... but during my father's second marriage, my step-sister (note: not a blood relative) and I did some "exploring" that was not necessarily innocent, but as we were a tad bit younger and not even developed, it never really got to full blown incest (nor do I count it as such, seeing as we were not blood relatives and we aren't even step-siblings anymore).
And... to quote something that I read last night, lol...
"i don't mind it, love is love, but it's just weird."
Incest may be immoral but consider a lot of people indulging in sex with animals. It that normal??? That is out of the norm, so rather if for just pure experience sake and getting ready for future encounters, masturbate or do it with a willing family member (if they of age) as opposed to doing it with dogs (most popular) or donkeys or horses or bulls as so many people prefer. They are the sick ones.
Lizz
I totally agree with you. Some phrases in this article make me want to vomit.
Like I am adventurous and bold and to me sex is between a male and female, animals are not of our species and they do it there way. The person who objects to incest has his/her views and just as I dont condone it 100%, but if treated like for enjoyment and pleasure or experience then why not, WITH PRECAUTION, go ahead and do it with mutual consent. People use toys..objects that you operate manually so why not physically experience it :)
Lizz
I once again indulged in incest with my brother, but this to me was a bit of a disaster. Brothers tend to take their sisters as whores as they have no love bond between them as a husband or wife / lovers have. This time he really ripped me apart in every conceivable position and although I felt great sexually, afterwards a lot of guilt set in as he showed no tenderness towards my appetite. I will not let him touch me anymore even though I had the type of wild sex I enjoy most and he was very selfish in his approach. Girls be careful when indulging in incest. Your nearest ones may not show any affection the second time around and this is a recipe for disaster.
While pregnancy is an issue, another big issue involves the same principle of not dating people you work with. Anytime you for an intimate relationship with someone and are in an organization neither of you wish to leave (say like work or a family) you run the risk of having a painful breakup but not being able to cease being around them.
Having been in a relationship with my ex-gf, then breaking up, with both of us attending the same dojo neither of us wish to leave, I know how painful it is to be around someone you've been in a relationship with and not being able to leave.
I can't imagine how horrible this could affect familial relationships.
I am not so innocent by saying that I have not indulged in such a practice. I have another brother and although I only gave him head time to time, it was just to get his curiosity satisfied. My other sister did also benefit from me with some lesbian tendencies like going down on one another and enjoying it. What I did find a few times (could have happened more times) is that I caught the two having full blown sex and it was just fortunate that my sister wasn't impregnated. I did confront them later and she did take the necessary precautions. Can't sometimes blame people of the same household having relations as without a doubt a lot of nakedness prevails in your home because of family members taking things for granted.
please be my sister i only have a brother and i always wondered what it would feel like to have a sister go down on me and me being a guy im not going to have my brother go down on me so please be my sister
Did a funny thing last night. My brother was around and hearing of my episodes, challenged me of which I obliged. It was fantastic, the same as kinda kinky to be penetrated by such a close family member. I am still aroused and a lot of people get this unusual feeling of arousal when willingly laid by close family members, especially brother/sister whom they find a closer bond with. Will try it again soon!!!!
Lizz
i personally would like to try brother-sister tabboo sex but never had the opportunity
A lot of incest (especially between brother/sister) takes place more as an experiment to bolster their sexuality before indulging in sex with a different partner. Some actually experiment beyond the boundaries, but most just do it to gain some experience so it makes life easier when they are in the 'real world'.
The choice lies with the individuals and in almost all cases ends as soon as one has found a suitable sexual partner. The danger is pregancy ... but most take precautions and also some countries deem it illegal. So be careful and rather I would suggest they indulge in heavy petting or oral sex.
Dave and Lizzie
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