The negotiation of tactile relationships in the marital dyad of incest survivors

Research has shown that incest, a tactile event, has short- and long-term deleterious effects. No study, up to this point, has linked incest, a tactile event, with subsequent tactile messages the incest survivor sends and receives. Thus, the purpose of this grounded theory study was to examine this linkage by exploring the tactile patterns in the marital dyad of incest survivors. An in-depth interview was conducted with 15 married female incest survivors who were presently or who had been in therapy. The participants were asked to describe tactile messages they sent and received in various situations and contexts. Specifically questions were asked about ideal touch, comfortable/uncomfortable touch, appropriate/inappropriate touch, typical/atypical touch, touch when fearful/upset, sexual/non-sexual touch, general changes regarding touch over time, touch related to incest event(s), and communication used about what tactile messages are liked/disliked. This study resulted in a grounded theory regarding the tactile relationships in the marital dyad of incest survivors. Those relationship stages ranging from unhealthy to healthy are described as abusive, avoidant, conflictual, transitional, and consensual. Survivors and their spouses may start at any stage, and progress toward a healthier or an unhealthier stage. Some stages may also be skipped. Much of this progression is dependent upon whether or not metamessages are exchanged, are "heard," and are adhered to by the other partner.

Grantor dc:publisher

Texas Tech University

Year dc:date.issued

1995

Author dc:creator

• Noble, E. Ann

• Incest victims -- United States -- Family relation
• Communication in marriage

Statement dc:rights

• Unrestricted.

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2346/9527

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:tdl-ir.tdl.org:2346/9527