A PSYCHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF
CONVICTED INCEST OFFENDERS BY MEANS
OF TWO PROJECTIVE TECHNIQUES

Thesls {or “we Degree of DI’I. D.
MICHIGAN STATE UNWERSITY
James 0. Martin

1958

 

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A PSICROLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF CONVICTfiD
INCEST OFFEEDERS BY Efififis OF TWO
PROJECTIVS TECHEIQUES

BY

James 0. Martin

A T113513

Submitted to the school for Advanced Graduate Studies of
Michigan State University of Agriculture and
Applied Science in partial fulfillment of

the requirements for the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of Psychology

Year 1958

ABSTRACT

James 0..Martin, Michigan State University. A Ps,cholo ical
Investigation of Convicted Incest Offenders B'NTEEHE"ETETFF-
Frolective focfifiiques. Iéajmfessor: uB‘Ex-TITRE‘EiET'

The present study represents an investigation of certain
personality factors derived from psychoanalysis, and their
relationship to the crime of father-daughter incest. Person-
ality traits descriptive of the psychoanalytic concept of the
”Phallic Character” were presented as hypotheses to be con-
firmed.

Thres hypotheses suggested the continued presence of
disturbances in the following psychosexual areas: Oral Eroti-
cisn, Oedipal Intensity, and Castration Anxiety. Three more
hypotheses were concerned with current behavioral reactions
associated with the dynamics to be found in the Phallic
Character; i.s.. the presence of aggressive drives, resent-
ment toward authority, and a contempt and hostility toward
women. The final four hypotheses contained predictions con-
cerning perceptions expected from this type of individual.
These included perception of the wife as unavailable sexually,
s self-percspt of inability to compete successfully with oth-
ers. perception of ths environment as hostile, and perception

of young adolssccnt females as being interested in hetero-

sexual activity.
ii

The subjects used in this investigation included an
Experimental Group of thirty Incest Offenders and s Control
Group of florty-ons other prisoners. The Controls were sub-
divided into one group of twenty-one man convicted of
Statutory Rape against non-related minor females, and a cec-
ond group of twenty non imprisoned for the felony of Break-
ing and Entering. All subjects schisved I.Q.'s of 80 or
above. Ho subject had a prior history of arrest for a
sexual or assaultive crime, and no subject had been previous-
ly diagnosed ns psychotic or severely disturbed mentally.
Analysis of the data on the subjects indicated that the
Incest Offenders had s higher mean age than either of the
Control subegroups. The Incest Offenders had more children,
and as s group had cone into less conflict with the law

prior to the commission of the crime for which they were in-
careersted.

Instruments used in this investigation were the Blacky
Pictures Test. six cards fron.ths Thematic Apperception Test,
and one card from the Michigan Picture Test. The latter
seven cards were presented to the subjects, and scored, ac-
cording to a method devised for the present study. Tests of
hypotheses were nods by comparing the responses of each group

by means of Chi-Square.

iii

The statistical compcri sons indicated that the Incest
Offender Group had a significantly greater frequency of the
proposed reactions on three of the tan hypothesea tested.
flhasa differences were in the areaa of Oral Eroticism, Gaga
tration Anxiety. and Oedip&1 Intensity. These three
hypotheses were supported.

the remaining aeven experimantal hypofibcues wart ro-
Jocted as the Incest Offender: did not reveal a significantly
higher-froqueney'of'the rasponsoa expected by the design of
the study.

The Incest Offendar Group had a significantly higher
number or individuals Who wart Judged £3 generally'disturbed
in tho paydhosexnal areas, a: msasnred by their responses to

five Blacky'Pictures cards.

A discussion of the limitations of this study and of
the instruments employed was presented, and the current re?
suits were compared with thoaa found in a similar study done
at Sing Sing Prison. Su 3&2estiona for further resaa rch warn

made.

 

 

Approved: an- ‘
Kibert I. Rabin
Dept. of Psychoiog

Pb. DO.

Dateiwf['izg‘~5’c? #

1v

ACICJOwL”"C§£$€TS

A primary debt of gratitude is owed to Dr. Albert I.
Rabin, Major Professor and Committee Chairman who directed
this thesis, fior hio invaluable professional assistance
and his personal interooo in its progress. Important,
also, was the help rendered by Dr. Paul Bakln and Dr.
Gerald King, Committee Members, whose suggestion. and
critique. made this research more scientifically sound

and certainly more readable.

The assistance of the filohigau Department of Correct-
ions is acknowledged, including Birootor Gun Harrison,
Warden William H. Bannan, and other: of the start of tho
Stat. Prison of Southern Michigan. my personal thanks go
out to the inmates who took part in thin study, especial-
ly the coxual offenders. to whom no personal reward was
offercd. AdditionAIIy, I would liko to singlo out Doug W.,
inmate clerk who typed this report, and who previously
typed the many revisions necessary during its progress.

Doug also did much of the group testing.

Finally, I would like to mention my wife, Barbara Ann,
who endured the many trials common to wire. of Ph. D. candi-

da‘0.0

I.

II. _

III.

IV.

V.

'1': ”LE 0? COI£T£IST3

IIITROEUCTION

St‘tamflnt 0r tha PrOblun u o o o o o

REVIEW OF THE LITEmTUIZE . . . . . .

POSSIBLE UW‘ERLYIKG CAUSES IN THE

CRIMIuAL IKCESTUAL ACT
Preliminary Considerations .
Statement of Hypechflle’ o o

PROCEDURE
SUbJBGt' 0.. c a o o a o o a

Control Groupfl 0 u o o o I o

Psycho-Sooial Characteristics of

O

SfllCfltion of TCUtI o I o o o o a

Response measurafi a o o o o
The Judging ExPerimont . . .
Tests of fiypotheses . . . .

RESULTS
The EIpQrinontal Hypotheses
Further Experimental Analysis

vi

15
21

2b
26
28
36
39
£5
53

55
64

VI.

VII.

TABLE OF CONTfllTS - Cont.

DISCUSS ON 0? RESULTS

The Experimental Hypotheses . . . . . .
Discussion of tho Experimental Findings
Limitations of the Present Study . . . .

SUI-SEMI A2551) COE’éCLUSIUNS

Genaralfiamarka ............

BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

v11

70
71
79

82

85

LIST OF TABLES

1. Intolltgencc, Age, and Educational Level or
the Tflfial SEQPIC o 0 Q o t 9 t u a o o a I a . a 30

2. marital Status 0 a o a o o o c o o o o o o o o 0 32
30 Criminal Record a n 0 a o o o o o o u o o a c a n 33
a. Ag’ a: Victim (Sax Groups) 0 o a n o o 0 c o o o 35

5. Number of Coital Contact: with Victim-Ificost .
GTO“? o o o o I o . o 0 o o 0 o q o o 0 o o 0 ¢ 0 36

6. Final Tout Items. ChiuSqnaro Significance
Level. and “flan Rating 0 u o o I Q o o o o o o c 51

7. ChicSqnaro Analysis of Hypothesis I-t .1. . . . . 55

8. ~ * ' - ' I-b . . . . . . 57
9. ' ' ' " ' I-c . . . . . . 58
19. "V . u a " L4..... .. 59
11. * ~ ~ * a 1-. . . . . . . 60
12. u ~ ~ , " 1-: . . . . . . 61
13. ' - w * a 11. . . . . . . 61
1.. " a w w v 111-. . . . . . . 62
15. ' - n v u III-h . . . . . . 63
16. ' ' " ' ' IV. . . . . . . 63

I7. Chi-Square Analysia of'Scoros on Blacky
C‘rd II o o c o a o o o a o o c o o u c o o o o o 65

18. Chi-3 are Analysis of Scores on Blacky
Card I o o p o a u o o o a n 0 ¢ - o o u o n o 66

7111

\Irl‘lll“ rll ,luln. rllll‘

 

LIST OF TABLES - Cont.

19. Chi-Square Analysis of Total Amount at Psycho-
nexual flisturbancu Found in Individuals within
Each Group - the Five Blacky Test Cards

A - Individual Blacky Protocols, Humber or
Cardfi Scored ”Disturbed” o c o o u a o o a o 67

B - By Parcentagas a o o o o c o o o u a o o o o 67

20. Chi-quare Signif1c&nce Levels
A . The Blacky Test Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
BthoSovanPictursStoryCarda........ 68
21. Porcentages¢ot Subjects in Each Group Shdwing
Disturbance 1n the Testing
A - The Blacky'faat (+ or ++ Scores). . . . . . . 69
B - The Picture Story Gard: (”Strong”

Reactions) 0 0 ¢ 0 o o o v o a o o o o o o o 69

22. Comparison of Present Findings with Thane of
GluCCk - Deact1pt1'9 Statistics 0 o I o o o o 0 Q 76

23. Comparison of Present Findings with Those of
Gluack - Disturbance Ratings (Mild and
marked) a o o o o o o a o c o o o o o c a c o o o 73

I
INTRODUCTION

Statement of the problem

The problem of the sexual offender is of great import-
ance for those groups involved in the detection, detention,
and prevention of socially deviant behavior. .MOtivating
factors behind many such crimes are inadequately understood
by those responsible for dealing with the criminal. There
appears to be a dearth of scientific investigations of sexy
ual crimes by those very disciplines whose object it is to
understand human behavior. The criminal sexual offender
provides an important area of study for such diverse groups
as law enforcement officials; penologists, and the behavioral
scientists and; secondarily; for the lauhmaking and adminis-

trative organisations directing the control of such behavior.

1n. clinical psychologist is in a position to offer ser-
vices and data toward the understanding of these sexual of-
tenses. Sharing in common with other disciplines in the
behavioral sciences a knowledge of personality theory -
development and deviation . techniques of interviewing, and
the use of case history'naterial; the clinician can also make

a unique contribution in the use of psychological tests and

- 1 .

projective techniques. Such techniques may bring to light

material which the sexual offender wishes to cover up; they
may reveal unconscious dynamics and give a greater understand-

ing of the total personality structure of the individual.

The clinical psychOIOgisty in attempting to understand
the sexual offender. generally operates within a framework
of personality theory largely developed by psychoanalysis.
Therefore. the understanding. detection, diagnosis of, and
pregnosis for the sexual offender by the clinical psychol-
ogist would appear to be generally dependent upon the
validity of this psychoanalyticallyudevcloped personality
theory, and the psychologist's ability to extract material
from the sexual offender pertinent to such theory.

Prominent in the hierarchy of sexuallyumotivated
behaviors. according to psychoanalysis. is incest. This be-
havior, whether in conscious or unconscious fantasy, or in
overt act.is of vital importance to the development of the
personality. lhc Oedipus Complex. a psychoanalytic concept
for certain parent-child relationships whose motivating
force is largely sexual; is given a primary role in the
psychoanalytic interpretation of incest behavior. Since
incest is prohibited by Ian‘and custom in our culture, the
individual convicted of such behavior becomes legally a

sexual criminal.

‘In investigating incest behavior the psychologist must
study the individual by means of psychologically-developed
methods and techniques designed to clarify its basic moti-
vations. and the possible precipitating factors.

II
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

In view of the importance of incest-motivated behavior
in the formulation of personality dynamics by psychoanalytic
theorists, and the acceptance of such a general theory of
personality by clinical psychologists. it would seem that
the investigation, verification, and validation of this
theory would attract experimental psychological studies.

It is surprising to discover the dearth of such studies in-
volving the incest offender in the recognised technical
psychological publications.

Review of the published literature in 1930 fails to
reveal a single, specific investigation of the convicted in;
test offender by clinical methods.1 One may speculate that
this is a function of the lack of clinical psychologists in
facilities where this type of offense may be studied, or a
lack of sufficient numbers of such offenders. Ellis.
.Deorbar. and Johnson (5) made a multiple correlational study

of the characteristics of convicted sex offenders. ihis

 

1Incest offenders have, presumably, been combined into
grou s with other sexual offenders in some studies. In
a at er a ic e cited be ow, incest offenders formed one
su group 0 s 1 sexual o fender group studies.

- g -

study did not isolate the incest offender, nor drew'conclup
sions about him. Incest offenders were merely grouped with
others as fimaJor offense." Certain factors may be implied,
mainly under the heading I'I‘thenuating Circumstances," where
it was shown that the victim was willing,«or that alcohol

‘wes involved more often in this grouping of "major offense."

Lindner (12) found that the Blacky Pictures differ-
entiated between sex and non-sex offenders, but not between
sex offenders grouped as homosexual vs. heterosexual offendn

Ora.

Ellis and Brancale (6) have published a volume dealing
with the investigation of 300 convicted sex offenders at the
New'Jersey Diagnostic Center. Of these 300, eleven were con-
victed of the crime of incest. In specifying the techniques
employed in this investigation. they mention psychiatric in-
terviews. frequently including drug and hypnotic procedures,
case history information. and psychometric and projective
testing. Some general conclusions follows Fewer than half
of these incest offenders showed. or admitted to, previous
criminal acts of any sort. All were psychiatrically diagnos-
able. with seven showing primarily neurotic symptoms. 1hree
were legally committable to state mental institutions. Five
others exhibited signs of severe emotional disturbance. All

eleven gave evidence of severe emotional inmaturity.’

- 5 .

Alcoholism as an associated or precipitating factor in the
criminal act was seen in eight of the cases. None of the
eleven incest cases was above average in intelligence, ten

of them being in the Dull-Normal to Average range.

Turning to more general studies in the field. we find.
that Frosch and Bromberg (8) see alcohol as a frequent fac-
tor in incest cases. Kaufman, Peck, and Tagiuri (ll), -
investigating the family constellation and overt incestuous
relationships between father and daughter. describe the sexr
uel relationship as a prolonged one. The fathers are charac-
terized as povertybstricken. alcoholic, having little
education. and as being irresponsible in their occupation.
Riemer (18), e Swedish sociologist. has described some of
the incest offenders in that country who came to his attenu
tion. He characterizes them as coming from a low cultural
level and as being a disorganized group. These offenders
tended to leave home at an early age; having come from brok-
en homes, usually with a good deal of psychological tension
between the parents. Before beginning the incestuous relation~
ship. the routine of everyday life suffered some interruption a
accident. economic troubles, disease, or the like. Almost
all of these cases suffered from extreme sexual frustration.
Riemer concluded that incest was due to indifference toward

social responsibilities, and coincided with sexual frustration.

-6-

Karpman (10) has perhaps the most complete survey of
the literature in his 195% volume on the sexual offender.
In regard to incest, he states that the number of cases re-
ported to the police is only a small fraction of those
occurring. The proportion of scquittels is high, and the
prectice of reducing charges to one of lesser magnitude
clouds accurate statistical reporting. Incest is difficult
to prove.“ The victim is often unwilling to bring charges
or to testify.“ The eggressor is not always the male. Al-
though the 1951 Michigan Report, cited in Karpman, finds the
intelligence and education of the average sex offender to be
below that of the general population, most writers, accord-
ing to Karpmsn, believe that the most sex offenders are of

average intelligence. Low schooling, however, is common.

In describing the motivation for incest, Karpmen‘nen-
tions that it is often not associated with e marked degree
of psychopathology. Influences are chiefly cultural and
sociological, identified with e primitive family organise»
tion. Incest offenders do not have the neurotic reflections

of other sexual criminals.

One of the most ambitious research studies to come to
the author's attention is the report of the group studying
the convicted sexual offender at Sing Sing Prison. Glueck

- 7 -

(9), as director and editor for this project, has issued a
500 page statistical and descriptive final report of the re-
search findings on various sub-types of the sexual offender.
This research approach to the questions surrounding the be?
havior and dynamics of the aberrant sexual offender utilized
the classical psychiatric team approach. Psychiatrists,
psychologists, and social workers comprised the principal
investigators, with other social scientists as consultants
for methodology and interpretation. Operating within the
framework of a 'psychodynamic' approach, these investigators
used the training and techniques of the various disciplines,
both separately and integratively, to substantiate their
initial fernulations.

The research techniques aimed at the inclusion of separ-
ete findings into total rating scales which included several
hundred factors. There were both psychiatric schedules and
rating sheets, and psychological rating scales, the latter
comprising clinical tests and independent observations. No-
ted by the psychologists was the brevity and barrenness of
the test records, a factor which, however, did not impede
their usefulness as measured by agreement among interpreters

and observers.

There were eix.sub-groups within the total sexual offend-
er group. The entire sex.offender sample consisted of 170

- 8 -

cases, of which twentybthree formed a body of incest offend-
ers. The control group was taken from the general prison
population, and was watched as closely as possible, with the

exception of the non-sexual nature of their offenses.

In discussing his results, Glueck puts forward general
formulations concerning the psycho-sexual dynamics of these
sexual offenders. his research group could not demonstrate
any one specific traumatic episode in the sexual development
of most of the men. There appeared to be e continuously
traumatic, prohibiting and inhibiting attitude toward sexual
behavior throughout the developmental years that was reflect-
ed in the serious distortions of the adult sexual patterns.
Glueck found an impaired ability to use fantasy, or other
mechanisms involving abstracting capacity as an outlet fer
sexual conflicts. This condition apparently is due to s
serious impairment of the general capacity for abstract*
thinking. There was evidence of pervasive difficulties en-
countered in interpersonal relationships, particularly in
adult life. There appeared to be a generalized personality
pattern in these sexual offenders involving striking withdrew-
a1, isolation, timidity, and inability to utilise the ordinary

channels of social intercourse.

Specific findings demonstrated a confirmation of earlier

impressions that the sexual offenders are sexually inadequate,

-9-

and that the sexual offense represents a rather deeperate
attempt at repairing the badly damaged patterns of sexual
adaptation, rather than an eXpreeeion of a normal eex urge,
or an expression of excessive eexnal potency. The marriage
patterns of'theee offendere were very unstable, with late
marriage, separation and divorce being common. The wivee
were Judged to be pathological, themeelvee, in a high pro«
portion of the cases. Deepite the difficultiee of the
marital relationship, many of the sexual offendere wiehed to
carry on the marriage, probably a reflection of the depend-
ency urgee feund in the majority of the group.

The eocial pattern of this group, in addition to the
findings mentioned above, showed an almost total preference
for non-intellectual activitiee. Fifty percent of the sexual
offendere were Judged and rated to be alcoholice, either to

a moderate or a eevere degree.

The general clinical findings indicated impairment in
all areas of personality functioning. This appeared to be
related to the chronic, pervasive, and severe anxiety fennd.
The personality defenses were generally of the most primi-
tive types, and included avoidance of anxiety-provoking
eituatione, denial, and mechanisms of projection. ‘3333 of

the eexuel offendere were rated as having a normally flexible

-10..

0Q

type of control - either too rigid and overcontrolled, or
too impulsive and lacking in sufficient controls. There
were severe generalised feelings of guilt about all aspects
of personality functioning, and defects in the control mech-
anisms which would normally prevent behavior producing these
guilt feelings. A striking amount of psychopathology was
found in these sexual offenders.é Seventy percent showed .
"definite schisOphrenic patterns,“ as indicated by the
schisosdaptive living patterns and the disturbances in age
functioning.

Summaries are presented on each of the six sub-groups
of sexual offenders. Here, we shall nontion only the incest
offenders. This incest group - made up of offenders from
several other groups who also happened to commit incest - has
no special characteristics except that the pathology found
in the other groups is at its maximum in this one. These
sen are the sickest of all the groups, even though they may
have made a fairly good adjustment at some time in the past.

Enoughstatistical infermation concerning the incest
offender group is reported in this article to make compari-
sons with the incest experimental group in the present study.
This comparison will be reported in a later section under

”Discussion of Results.”

Turning to Fenichel (7) who may be considered as repre-
sentative of the orthodox psychoanalytic school, we find
only brief mention of the parents' role in the Oedipus rela-
tionship. Fenichel states, "Neurotic parents bring up neu-
rotic children, and the children's Oedipus complex reflects
the parents' unsolved Oedipus complex.” Later, ”The parents'
unconscious sexual love for their children is greater when
thier real sexual satisfaction, due to external circumstances
or to their own neurosis, is insufficient. This love is felt
by the children unconsciously as a sexual temptation, in-
creasing their Oedipus complex; and sometimes it is even
unconsciously felt by the parents, who then make up for it
by sudden threats or frustrations, so that frequently the
same children are excited and then frustrated by the same

parents.

while most analytic writers discuss the Oedipus complex
from.the point of view of the child and the child‘s deveIOp-
meat, Rangell (16) cites clinical material stemming from, and
having its basis in the adult or parental role in this relae
tienship; He emphasizes that the Oedipal relationship
produces effects not only in regard to the impulses coming
from the child to the parents, but also simultaneously in
connection with the feelings in the opposite direction.
from the parent to the child; Rangell points out that the

. 12 u

Oedipus complex has a continuous and dynamic line of deveIOp-
nent, from its earliest origin, through the various phases
in the life of the individual. It is a constantly reappear-
ing thing which shows up in new and changing roles. The
early, original complex of the phallic period goes through
that stage, and is then "solved" in one way or another for

e period of time. It remains dormant, but is s powerful
dynamic force in the unconscious. It has cyclic history
from this earlier point, characterised by rejuvenations

during certain crucial periods of life.

One of these periods in which we are most interested,
is when the child of the parent is emerging from puberty
into sexual maturity. Prior to this, Opportunities for in-
pulse satisfaction is et its height, and maximum attainment
of sexual gratification is possible. it this period of the
child's coming of age, however, frustration and revived
longings may occur in the parent, stimulated by both the
sense of declining power, and, in contrast, by the lustiness
seen in children. This time there is s reversal of the orig-
inal Oedipal process. The individual looks backward, not
forward. The object is now not one's own powerful parent,
but one's child, grown to his zenith. It is still one's own,

s narcissistic extension of the self.

- 13 -

For the present study, in the case of individuals who
act out their Oedipal feelings directly such as incest of-
fenders, there is the added possibility of provocative
sexual behavior on the part of the daughter toward her
father based on her own unresolved Oedipal strivings. Thus,
we may have s reciprocal sexual attraction between father

and daughter due to similar psychodynamie factors.

The universality of the incest taboo is commented upon
by Ehrdock (1h), an anthropologist. In discussing material
gathered from a sample of two hundred and fifty societies
w from all over the world, he mentions, ”In none of the 250
sample societies, nor in any other that I have ever read
about, is either sexual intercourse or marriage considered
possible between father and daughter, ...' He qualifies
this with examples of highly exceptional circumstances, not
applicable to our culture or to the general run of the pepu-
letion of other societies.

'1‘-

III
POSSIBLE UNDERLYING CAUSES IN THE CRIMINAL INCESTUAL ACT

Preliminary,considerations

In reviewing the available information on imprisoned
incest offenders, general areas of similarity of behavior
were seen. These areas involved descriptive personality
characteristics, overt behavior, and environmental situ-
ations. The similarities suggested the possibility of
organising the various components involved in the criminal
behavior into separate areas which could be examined more
thoroughly, in an attempt to increase our understanding

of such behavior.

In develOping these areas, much reliance was placed
upon knowledge and eXperience with certain personality
theories used in clinical psychology. The theoretical
formulations which follow are derived from psychoanalytic
theory. It was hoped that these areas would facilitate the
understanding of this type of behavior, and would provide
some esplanation of the events and motivations leading up
to the act itself. Later, definite hypotheses will be de-

velOped from these areas.

-15-

‘Aggg.§: The first area involves the description of the
psychosexual characteristics of the offender. This male and
husband possesses genital sexuality, and such emotional con-
flicts as may be present do not manifest themselves as an
inhibition of adult heterosexual intercourse. The male is
heterosexually oriented, prefers adult intercourse, and is

accustomed to such intercourse through the marital union.

The desirability of understanding this offender more
completely in terms of existing personality theory leads us
to an examination of the psychoanalytic formulations of the
stages of psychosexual development. The descriptive material
suggests that these individuals possess many of the character-
istics of the Phallic Character, as described by Fenichel (7)
and Blum (1). This is the theoretical psychoanalytic formu-
lation which attempts on eXplanation of those peeple who are
fixated at the phallic stage of psychosexual deve10pment.

The basis of'this character fixation lies in the flight from
the threats of the Oedipus complex. Specifically, the threat
is the fear of castration. This fear, itself, stems from the
fantasies concerning the mother, and the father's feared re-
actions. The father is seen as punitive and rejecting,

ready to retaliate upon the son for the latter's attempts to
possess the mother. The mother is seen as the source of all

satisfactions. She is loving and generous and is dominant

in the mother-son relationship. In dealing with his un-
resolved castration anxiety the phallic character must deny
his desire for his mother, i.e., de-sexualise her through
repression and altered perceptions. The behavior of these
phallic characters is resolute, reckless, and self-assured .
traits, however, which have a reactive character; they
reflect a fixation at the phallic level. An intense vanity
and sensitiveness reveals that the castration fears are

still partially active. These individuals usually anticipate
assault (castration) by attacking first. Their resentment
of subordination and their tendency to dominate others are
both grounded in fear. They behave aggressively as a re-
action tc the feelings of being helpless against feared
aggression. Basically, the phallic character is extremely
oral-dependent, and suffers from recurring castration anxiety.
most of his behavior can be seen as overecompensating for
these deeper feelings. Finally, the male, driven to repeat-
ed attempts to demonstrate his masculinity, is nevertheless
contemptuous and hostile toward women. Above, we have con-
sidered the first area, i.e., the psychosexual motivations

and the underlying personality dynamics.

égea‘ggz The second area deals with the existing sari.
tal situation. The males has been accustomed to regular sexy

ual outlet with his wife. For various reasons, now, the

-17...

wife is perceived as unavailable for such outlet. There may
be physical barriers to intercourse, for example, hospital-
isation or institutionalization which removes the wife from
the home. On the other hand, the wife may reject the husband
or suffer from sexual frigidity because of certain events
such as environmental frustrations, dissatisfaction with the
husband, physical disorders, etc. The husband, himself,

may contribute to this unavailability by means of his own
personality dynamics. Since he is unable to form mature,
satisfactory relationships, his percepts are rather distort-
ed, being already sensitive, having long established hostil-
ities and defending against recurrent anxiety. The common
denominator in this area is the male's perceived loss of the
wife as a sexual outlet. This unavailability of outlet low-
ers the ordinary threshold for sexual arousal, and reinforces
already existing feelings of masculine inadequacy.

15525.;;;: This examines the offender's percepts of him-
self and his environment. It is an attempt to formulate
more general characteristics and behavior patterns. While
the first area dealt with reactions to psychosexual con~
flicts, the present area will deve10p more total behavioral
patterns, which have generalised from the original conflicts,
and now are habitual reactions to the environment, and includ-

ing self-percepts. Since the offender is fixated on an

immature psychosexual level, his percepts still retain the
flavor of the child-adult relationship. In his dealings
with adults he perceives himself in the receiving situation,
being the inferior partner, subject to domination by others.
His reactive aggressive pattern and masculine strivings in-
dicate a more basic concern over inability to cope with many
situations. A general result of his inadequacies in dealing
with adult demands and responsibilities is a feeling that he
is the victim of a cold and hostile environment.

‘Azgg.113 The fourth area is concerned with the choice
of sexual outlet as revealed by the crime. where, in real-
ity, the offender has a choice of sexual outlet in the non.
related, nature female pepulation, the actual behavior
indicates that the father chose. not once, but usually
repeatedly, an incestual object . his daughter. His per:
captions of the daughter are sexualised. Two conditions
probably contribute to the choice of the younger female.
Primarily, the unconscious threats and barriers to the adult
female and, couplementing this, the immature selfb
identification of the offender which places him more on a
level with younger individuals. Given the heterosexual
drive of’the offender, he sees adolescent females as desir-

able and acceptable sexual objects. He perceives them as

attractive and feminine, and willing to indulge in sexual

relations.
- 19 -.

{5533.13 The preceding factors have attempted to bring
out the background conditions making the criminal behavior
probable. This needs only a final element to account for con-
summation.of the act. We suggest that this final element is
the ego control or strength of the individual. Ego control,
for our purposes, shall be defined as the person's ability to
control his impulses and desires. choose acceptable courses
of action based on previous experiences and knowledge of
social demands. and to Judge or foresee the consequences of
his behavior. The offender's ego control, as implied in the
preceding;naterial of this section, is not up to mature,
adult strengths. It is most often further impaired by exces-
sive use of intoxicants, during which the act frequently
takes place. is a final step we may examine the offender's
eXplanations of his behavior. Let us remark here that there
does not seem to be any long-standing impairment of mental
functioning in the majority of these offenders which would
explain.these actions as being due to the effects of psychosis
or mental deficiency. The loss of ego control in our offend-
are is never total or complete. How, then, does the offender
explain his behavior to his society which regards such actions
as illegal, Iorally wrong, and personally abnormal? The ofb
fender's explanations, rationalisations, and denials are inf

keeping with his general personality structure. Being the

-20-

immature, irresponsible person, he blames the daughter for
provoking him. According to him, the daughter is openly
sexually aggressive and inviting. Secondly, he will deny
the responsibility by blaming alcohol which has impaired his
Judgment. Finally, he may, like a child, choose to ignore
what is painful or unpleasant by denying the sexual activity
altogether, or attempt to minimize it.

figegemgnt of thgtheseg

Our first hypothesis deals with the underlying person-
ality structure of the incest offender. It has been suggested
earlier that this offender suffers from a character disorder
and reveals many of the psychological traits of the theoretic-
al phallig gharacter as described by psychoanalysis. It is
further suggested that the causes of this character fixation
lie in the presence of an unresolved Oedipus complex in the
incest offender. The offender still perceives the parents in
terms of the childhood needs, frustrations, and fears. This
first hypothesis, in testable farm, deals with psychological
measures of the phallic-character.

gypgthesis 1: compared with the controls, incest of.

fenders will reveal a greater frequency
of eccurence of:

ai strong oral-de endenc reactions
b strong castrat on ety reactions

-21-

strong Oedipal intensity reactions
aggressive drives

resentment toward authority
attitudes of contempt and hostility
toward women

H. 0-0
v

The second hypothesis relates to the incest offender's
parception.of his marital partner as unavailable for sexual
outlet. Whether physically present or absent, the wife is
seen as not satisfying the husband's sexual demands.

lgypothesis 11: Compared with our controls, more in-
seat offenders will perceive the wife
as unavailable for sexual purposes.

The third hypothesis deals with the incest offender's
perceptions of'himself and of his general environment. The
incest offender is generally unable to master his environment
and successfully assume adult responsibilities. His environ-
ment is seen as being hostile and rejecting.

fizpothesig III: Compared with the controls, more in-

cast offenders will:

a) reveal self-percepts indicati
inability to compete success y
with others

b) perceive the environment as being
hostile and overwhelming

The final hypothesis suggests choice of sexual outlet

as indicated by the sexual offense. is the incest offender

turns toward his daughter as a possible object for sexual

.22-

satisfaction, he perceives her as a matured female, capable

and willing in sexual matters. He expects her to acquiesce
to his desires.

thesis 3 Compared with the controls, more in-
cest offenders will perceive young
adolescent females as being interest-
ed in nature heterosexual activity.

-23-

IV
PROCEDURE

Subjects

The experimental subjects were drawn from s population
of offenders who were convicted and sentenced to prison for
the crime of incest with their own biological daughters.
Legally; this fierbidden sexusl behavior between fsther end
daughter is defined es "Incest“ in the State of’flichigan.
However, fer various reasons not pertinent to this study,
many of these offenders are tried,_eentenced, end come to
prison under other felony statutes. By far the most common
felony for which these incest offenders were imprisoned is
the crime of 'Statutory Rape," s more general offense involv-
ing intercourse with a female under the age of sixteen.
Finally, I smaller group of incest offenders was found sen.
tensed for the crime of ”Indecent Liberties.” The experi-
mental group for this study was node up cf’effenders
sentenced under all three of these felony statutes; The
basic criterion for inclusion in this experimental group
was the fact that sexual intercourse between father snd‘

biological daughter was proved through legal procedures.

-25-

The experimental sample was taken free the papulation
of incest offenders currently incarcerated at the State
Prison of Southern Michigan (Jackson Prison). These sub-
Jects were not imprisoned fer longer than five calendar
years prior to this study to minimise the effects of insti-
tutionalisation. Subjects chosen did not demonstrate, by
official record, prior sexual crimes. The official prison
records of incest offenders nesting the above criteria were
reviewed more thoroughly, and those individuals showing
signs ef'longostanding psychosis either before or after the

present crime were eliminated.

Offenders revealing gross physical or intellectual de-
fects were discarded. White offenders only were included in
the study.

In the majority of cases there were rather complete deg
tails available in the official prison records concerning
arrest, investigation of the crime and statements of partici-
pants and witnesses. Only those cases were used where the
Irecords indicated that the daughter was beyond the stage of
puberty or showed definite pubescent signs. These cases
were included where there was descriptive material indicating
_ that the daughter was at least a passively willing partner.

cases involving fercible rape were not used.

.25-

The experimental group of incest offenders met the fol-
lowing criteriax the offense took place with a sexually
willing daughter above the age 5: puberty. The father pos-
sessed no recognised intellectual or emotional abnormalities
which would have prevented him from.recognising the nature
and possible consequences of his behavior. Finally, the ofb

fender's actions were proved beyond reasonable doubt in court.

' ntro u a

One control sub-group was made up of other sexual offend-
ers. These controls were imprisoned for sexual intercourse
with females . nonrelated - sixteen years of age or younger.
The rationale for using this control group of sexual offend-
ers was to equate the sexual activity with that of the incest
offenders, except for the factor of legally and morally pro-
hibited consanguinity of the victim. 3creening.criteria were
similar to that used in the selection of the experimental
group. These offenders were used who had no prior prison
convictions and who had no previous history of arrests for
sexual crimes. All but one of this control group were aar-
ried. A final criterion; like that for the experimental
group, was that the crime did not entail violence or force
against the victim. This control group will be referred to
as the Control-Sex, or 8 group.

- 26 -

A second control subegroup was used to compare the fac-
to of sex vs. non-sexual offenses. Fer practical purposes
of selection it was most onvenient to utilise one specific
crime. The offense chos was that of ”Breaking and Enter.
ing,‘ descriptive of forc ble entry and stealing from an
establishment or home. Individuals in this group were screen-
ed by usual criteria. The report of the crime itself was
gone over most carefully and resulted in the exclusion of
some cases which indicated a sexual element in the offense
or showed any personal violence connected with the commission
of the crime. bill men with prior histories of arrests or con-
victions for sexual crimes were discarded. A final elimin-
aticn was made of those individuals who showed a past history
of violence associated with their crimes. The factor of
prior imprisonment could not be eliminated, but no repeated
offenders were usedt ‘This control group of non-sexual

offenders will be referred to subsequently as Control-BEE,
or B group.

The choice of convicts for the control groups was de-
cided upon after due consideration of other possibilities.
It was realised that the very fact that an individual is inn

prisoned for a felony increases the likelihood of discovering
some symptoms of a personality or character disorder. This
would tend to lessen possible differences between the incest

-27.

offender and a more general sample of the adult male popula-
tion. Hewever, it was felt that sociOneconcmic and other
cultural factors would be equalised by utilising prisoners
for both emperimental and control groups.

[gzgho-social characteristics of the Eggups,

After a sisable number of cases was accumulated in each
group to assure adequate statistical sampling, the sen were
placed ”on call" to the writer's office fer an initial inter-
view. Since this office is in the Psychiatric Clinic of the
‘priscn. which is known as the ”mental ward” or 'bug ward."
lost ef'the men answered the appointment call with some de-
greexef anxiety or reluctance. All men were initially
reassured that this call was not connected with “clinic bus-
iness.” and the writer gave a brief explanation of his
project. The actual description varied from individual to
individual. but contained the information that the author
was conducting this project for his Ph. D. degree at Michigan
State University'and that it was in no way a.pert of the
Department of’Corrections' official work. The men were then
told that they were being asked to volunteer to take part in
the project and that it was “may" up to them whether they

wished to participate or not. A further reassurance was

-23..

given that their names or prison numbers would not appear
anywhere in the report and that nothing would be made a ptrt
of any official prison records. it this point the men were
asked directly whether or not they wished to take part. In
most cases the individual testing was done at this first in-
terview; although in all cases the actual testing was
preceeded by an informalinterview designed to minimise the
situational anxiety associated with the nature of the pro.
Ject.

Approximately seventy records of incest offenders were
reviewed and screened. Thirty of these were rejected as
having shown some of the deviancies»nentioned earlier (low
l.Q., psychosis, ete.). Although the cut-off point for the
intelligence factor was originally planned to be an l.Q. of
70, a small pilot study indicated that an I.Q. of 80 would
be a.sore realistic limit for this kind of personality test-
ing. Below this point comprehension of the task and verbal
ability in responding to the test was inadequate fer the
scoring'used. Ihirtyuseven incest offenders were called to
volunteer for this study. Seven of these men refused to par-
ticipate or became so upset during the testing that they

declined to go on. Thirty incest offenders were tested, and
became our experimental group.

.29.

Twenty-eight men were called to participate in the
Control-Sex.group. Seven refused any part in the study.
leaving twenty-one subjects in this sex control group.
Twenty of the 3&3 Control group took the testing, while

only two men declined.

In tabular form, the statistical data on these three

groups is presented below.

TABLE 1

INTELLIGENCE, AGE AND EDUCATIONAL
LEVEL or THE lOTAL SAMPLE

A}; Mean . 2.3: gm Mean go £2552 M
Exper. (E): 30 103.h 82-126 52.2 32-58 7.95
Cont-Sex (a): 21 105.9 80-130 37.6 so-ts 8.39
Cont-8&3 (a): 20 108.6 88-125 35.3 30.50 3.60

)

The intelligence euotiente weLe obtained when the men
first ease to prison. The majority of these I.Q.'s are based
on the revised Army Alpha.or the Army General Classification
Test. In a few cases they are techsler-Bellevue scores. Age
at the tins of the present study is reported here. The Aver.
age Grade Rating (A.G.R.) is that obtained on the Stanford

'Achievement Test.

-30-

Examination of Table 1 indicates that the mean intelli-
gence of each of the three groups is in the normal or average
range. Small differences are noted in favor of the 8&8 Con-
trol group. The Average Grade Rating is similar for all
three groups, with the 8&3 Controls having e slightly higher
neon. Larger differences are noted in the mean ages of each
group. The Incest Offenders are slightly older than the
other two groups. In part, this appears to be due to the def
sign.of’the study, for one criterion for the Experimental
group was that the daughter had to be above the age of’puber-
ty.

While ell the experimental incest offenders had to be
merried, e very high proportion of the two control subcgroups
see else married at the time of commission of the present
crime or had been married at some thee previously. A differ-
ence is noted in the sedian number of children for each
group. The incest offenders everaged twice.the number of
children es the sex control group, and approximately three
times the number of children as were found in the Bis Con-
trol group. The older age of the incest offenders is e par-
tiel explanation here.

-31..

TABLE 2
MARITAL STATUS

kg. Cont-Sex Cont-BEE

 

aingle: 0 l 3.
Divorced er 0 0 8
separeted:
Married: 30 20 ' 9
huge:
0 . 1 7
l - 3 5 It
2 - 1 lo
3 - 1 3
1. - s 2 2
5 r 8 l
6 - I. 2
7 .- 2 l
8 «- 3 l
9 .. 2 l l
10 «-
11 ’ .
12 - ___l ____ __
Median number '
of children: 5.6 2.8 1.3

- 32 .

The previous criminal histories of the three groups
also indicated differences. The incest offenders showed
the least amount of prior illegal activities. For forty-
throe percent of the experimental group the present incest
offense was the first brush with the law, resulting in an
arrest. Another ferty percent had one arrest prior to the
present charge, and only seventeen percent had had two or

more arrests before being convicted of incest.
TABLE 3
CRIMINAL RECORD

Median number of arrest
(Including present crime

 

E: 1.7
S: 2.6
B: 8.3
lgignificance of difference;
I vs S: l non-significant
I vs B: .01 level
3 vs 3: .02 level

Ill determined by the median test.
- 33 -

The Control—Sex group was slightly more anti-social
previous to their current felony conviction. Only thirty-
three percent of them had had no prior arrests, while
another thirty-three percent were arrested once before
the present crime, and a full third had a history of two

or more arrests on previous occasions.

The 3&3 controls were definitely more criminal in
their adjustment. Although less rigid screening criteria
were used in the selection of this group, due to the ab-
sence of first offenders in the necessary age range, they
roughly matched the other two groups on mental and intel-
lectual factors. Fifty-five percent of this group had
seven or more previous arrests, while forty percent of

them had been in prison before.

In comparing the ages of the victims involved in the
crimes of the two sexual offender groups, we find that the
median ages of these girls are roughly equated, both being

in the feurteenth year.

-31.-

TABLE 5

AGE OF VICTIM
(sex groups)

£52; Cont-$05
‘55::
10 - l 1
ll . A 3
12 - 3 5
1) - 9 5
lb .. 11 3
15 . 1 3
15- .i .1

Median: 13.8 13.‘

The final table of this section, reporting the
eoitsl frequency between the incest offender and his victim
is taken from the verbatim statements in the official pre-

sentence investigation.

-35-

TABLE 5

NUEBER OF CGITAL COHTACTS WITH
VICTIM - INCEST GROUP

Official report:

1 time 2
3-h.times -5
&7 ' 1
10-12 ' 2
several ' 8
many ' 2
fi-Z years 5
h~5 ' 5
sex with other chil-

dren in family 10
victim pregnant L

§elgction of test;

The selection of testing materials to investigate
clinical hypotheses is s function of the extent to which
the responses to such tests can be manipulated in accord-
ance with accepted experimental procedures. Prior work
has been done in this area and there were available certain

projective techniques which contain quantifiable scoring

methods.

-36-

The hypotheses investigated in the present experiment
may be considered as falling into two categories. First,
were these hypotheses relating to basic personality charac-
teristics and related behaviors. These characteristics are
theoretically s product of the first years of life in the
individual, vhich ultimately influence future direction of
persogslity deveIOpnent. Several basic characteristics
(traits) when found together may indicate the presence of
s personality type or syndrome as posited by the theory.

In the present experiment Hypothesis I was designed to in-
vestigate the presence of the personality type described as
the phallic gheracter.

In the selection of specific tests to investigate the
first hypothesis, there was one technique which probably
comes first to the minds of most clinicians. This is the
Blacky Pictures test deVaIOped by Blue (2) to investigate
psychoanalytic stages of psycho-sexual development. In the
present experiment are statements of psychoanalytic concepts
of such psycho-sexual development directly testable by Blue's
technique. Hypothesis 1 --a, b, and c, were investigated by
means of the picture cards used in Blue's Blacky Pictures

test.

-37-

Behaviors associated with these traits of the phallig
character are also suggested in Hypothesis I, as d, e, and
I. These are certain attitudes and drives - forces which
motivate actions of the individual and may be considered
as associated with the personality concept of the phallic
choracter. These behaviors were investigated by methods

discussed below.

Hypotheses in the second category are those used to
investigate the presence of certain perceptions. These per-
cepts channel the current behaviors toward s.direction
culminating in the actions for which the individual is in-
prisoned. Hypotheses in this second group are titled II,
III, and IV and are more specifically related to additional
factors of the behavior investigated - incest.

For these hypotheses - those involving behaviors
related to the phallic character and percepts leading to
the crime of incest - another projective technique was
utilised. This is also of the type called an sppercsption
test, wherein the subject "reads into" certain ambiguous
picture cards motives, drives, and perceptions which really
are s reflection of his own personality make-up. Six of
these cardscame from the Thematic Apperception Test (15),

hereafter referred to as the T.A.T., and one card came from

-38-

tho filohigan Picture Test (13), subsequently referred to as
the EQP.T; The rationale for the selection of the specific
card: used is presented in the following section.

response measure;

Each hypothesis was investigated by comparing responses
led. by the Experimental and Control groups to a single card
selected to elicit such responses as related to that hypothes-

180

The Blacky Pictures test cards used in investigating

_ Hypothesis 1, sections a, b, and c. came from the Blacky
Picture: series of eleven cares. Each card is designed by
its cuthor to elicit measures of a certain stage of psycho-
acxual development as posited by peychoanalytic theory. or
direct value to the present eXperiment were cards I. VI, and
IV‘ot the series. corresponding to our Hypothesis 1 - a, b.
and c. roapoctivcly. Card I is entitled ”Oral-eroticism"
and was used to measure strength of oral-dependency nooda.
Card VI in callod "Castration Anxiety” and measured the
strength.of castration fours. Card IV is designated as
'Oodipal Intensity” and was used to measure the strength of
the individual's unresolved Oedipus Conplex. The adminis-

tration of this test in the current investigation followed

-39-

the directions given in the examiner's manual for the Blacky
Test. Instructions to the subjects are standard, calling
for a spontaneous story to the card, to be followed by a
standard set of questions to be answered by the subject.

Scoring of the stories followed the system preposed by
Blue in a revised scoring manual (3). By this system the
scoring is put on a.norc quantitative basis, eliminating
lush of the subjective Judgment of the clinical interpreter.
The entire Blacky Test of eleven cards was given, since the
scoring for any one card, following Blum, is dependent upon
both the subject's responses to that particular card and

upon the responses made to other cards.

This quantitative method involves scoring each sub-
Ject's story in fOur different areas - Spontaneous Story,
Inquiry, Related Comments, and Preference - following
Binnie tables. Each story received an over-all score of
either ++ (marked disturbance), v (mild disturbance), or
0 (neutral, or absence of disturbance signs). The final
overball score for each of the cards 1, VI, and IV was

used to test Hypothesis I; a, b, and 0, respectively.

The author served as a judge in a reliability study of
. this technique conducted by another Ph. D. candidate.2 Six
Blacky Test stories from each of twelve subjects were scored
independently by the two Judges. Since one of the areas,

Preference, merely recuires tabulation, three areas in each

story remained for a comparison of scoring Judgments.

Using this quantitative scoring, identical over-all
scores were obtained on sixty-seven out of the seventy-two
separate stories, resulting in ninetyathree percent agree-
ment between the two Judges for this method. In four of
the five remaining stories the discrepancy was only between

adjacent categories (++ and +, or e and O).

In the present study, the son in each group were
assigned to one of the three categories (++, +, or*0) accord-
in; to their over-all score on the particular card being
analysed. the total numbers falling into each category were

then compared.

Observation of the obtained distribution showed that
the numbers of individuals in each group falling into one of

the disturbance categories - marked or mild - frequently was

2In ooOperation with Dr. Mary M4 Leichty, in the course of
her doctoral research program.

du-

less than five. In cases such as this accepted statistical
procedure in using Chi-Square is to combine these low-
frequency categories so that the resulting larger observed
cell frequency may be used in the analysis. This procedure
was followed in the present Chi-Square computations, the
subjects being distributed according to a ”disturbance"

(+0 or +) - "no disturbance" (O) dichotomy.

The T.A.T. and M.P.T. techniques are usually employed
so as to allow the subject freedom to relate a story to a
particular card, using any of an infinite number of themes
which may occur to him. In interpreting such a protocol
made up of several of these stories, the clinician mainly

looks for the strength or recurrence of these themes.

The hypotheses investigated in the present experiment
are related to certain, specific themes. Therefore, the
usual presentation and interpretation of the apperception
test cards would not guarantee the elicitation of these,
hypothesis-theses. The above mentioned choice of the
Blacky Test suggested alternative ways of using the T.A.T.
and M.P.T. cards. I

The question arose of whether these cards could be used
as elicitors of specific themes, following the rationale of
the Blacky his. The possibility presented itself of

.‘2‘

selecting certain of these cards which, from prior clinical
experience, were most likely to result in the desired themes.
Since the Blacky Test included multiple choice responses as
part of its administration, it was felt that a similar meth-
od could be deveIOped for the suggested modification of the
T.A.T. and M.P.‘l‘. cards. -

As a result of these conditions, the following procedure
was developed for the testing of Hypothesis I - d, e, f; and

Hypotheses II, III, and IV, by means of the LA. '1'. and M.P. ‘1‘.
cards. The author selected seven cards (the number of specif-

ic responses to be tested)3 which, from prior experience, were
most likely to elicit themes similar to those expressed by
the specific hypotheses. These cards were carefully evalua

ated by the author and another psychologist in regard to the
following points: the specific card was considered to be
potentially a strong elicitor of the proposed theme; the

card was not seen as strongly potential of eliciting a con-
flicting theme (there is, of course, no guarantee against
this possibility, but the card was selected to minimise this

chance); and the card was capable of suggesting several ale
ternative responses all highly related to the stated theme.

the following cards were those selected:

 

3Six of these cards were chosen from the standard T.A.T.‘bst-
tery, and the remaining one was taken from the.M.P.T. test

batte , since it was felt that this card was a clearer eli-
tor o the theme desired.

- 43 -

For Hypothesis I - d, card 18 Bfiiof the T.A.T. series
shows a figure pepnlarly seen as struggling, with two hands
grasping his shoulder and arm. A theme of aggression is

commonly given.

Hypothesis I e e.dealing with resentment toward author-
ity will be treated by T.A.T. card 7 BM; in which there are
the feces of a younger nan and an older men. The younger

seems to be listening to the older.

Attitudes of contempt and hostility toward women.
Hypothesis I - f. utilises T.A.T. card 5, wherein s.nan

seems to be turning away from s women who is holding him.

Hypothesis II, investigating the perception of the
wife as sexually unavailable. involves T.A.T. card lJ‘MF,
showing e woman lying passively in bed, naked breasts ex»
posed. and e man with his back to her and one forearm

covering his race.

_ Card 1 of the T.A.I. is used for Hypothesis III - s.
A boy is shown seated looking at s violin. Themes of con.
petition or striving are commonly elicited.

Perception of the environment so being hostile is ex»
amplified by card 11 of the 7.1.1. This is an unusual drama
in; wherein the head of s dragon-like creature is emerging

- 45 -

from a hole in a cliff. Underneath, along a causeway or
bridge, indistinct figures. human and animal, are going
away from the dragon. This card is for responding to

Hypothesis III . b.

Finally, for Hypothesis IV, measurement of perceptions
of young adolescent females as being sexually aware, card 2
of the M3?.T. was shown. Two youngsters, seemingly of ages
between ten andifourteen, are together. The girl has her
5

head lowered. The boy's fly Seems to be Open as one button

is shown exposed.

With the final procedure in mind of using these cards
as s.multiple-choioe response test, it was decided that each
card would be presented along with feur possible alternatives
from which the subject would choose one. These alternatives
were to be descriptive statements about the action taking
place in the card. The of these statements were to be de-
signed so ss to be expressive of the theme fer which the
card was chosen. and the remaining two were to be ”neutral”

or non-empressive descriptions of the action.

The judging esperiment ‘

The author then selected ten descriptive statements for

each card. Five of these statements were indicative (strongly

f 45 -

related to) the theme expressed in the hypothesis, and five
were neutral descriptions of the action. These statements
along with the cards were then presented to the Judges who
were to rate each statement as to its relationship to the
hypothesis-theme. The Judges, seventeen in all, were ad-
vanced graduate students in psychology, enrolled in e course
in projective techniques, and so, presumably, were familiar
with the type of interpretation usually employed in the ap-
perception tests. The instructions to the judges were, as
follows:

”Each of these pictures to be show is usually

used to elicit a story tron.which the person's

giivzs, motivations or perceptions can be deter-
no.

"Instead of asking for a spontaneous story, I as
giving subjects e list of descriptive statements
to choose from.(statements which I hepe can eli-
cit a certain theme). This particular theme is
printed at the tap of each rating sheet.

“I am asking you. as clinical Ju to deter~
line whether the choice of a part cular descriptive
statement by the subject would indicate the pres-.
ence of the chosen theme - referred to at the top
or each rating sheet - in his personality.

"Each statement should be rated either 0, 15 2, 3,
or b; depending on whether. in your duds-est, choice
of‘that particular statement would mean that the
subject possessed that characteristic.

"To establish a common frame of reference for your
Judging, here is a list of'mesning for each num-
ber used in the ratings:

'0 - statement is non-related to charsce
teristie mentioned; a neutral choice

-‘6-

'l - state-est is slightly related to .
. :ttiacteristic; questionable but pos-
e

'2 - statement has senor relationship; parses
shows some of the characteristic; but
not strong ‘
'3- statement protabl indicates presence
. of that character stie; you are about
N-90i’confident
'5 . stats-ant is nest likely a good indi-
cator er the characteristic; clinically
sound. '
the Judges were then given the rating sheets and shown
the cards one at e em. as. themes in respect to which eadh
state-ant was to be rated corresponded to the expert-antal
hypotheses used in the present investiyatien, and were as

follows:

mu has

I d - indicates the presence or aggressive drives

I e . indicates the presence of attitudes of re-
eentnent toward authority

1 f - indicates the presence of attitudes of'hos-
tility and contempt toward wonen

II . - indicates the feeling that the wife is un-

available for sexual purposes
III a . indicates a self-percept on as a person who
is unable to compete successfully
111 b - indicates a perception of the environment
* as being hostile and overwhelming
IV . indicates the perception.ot'yonng adolese
' cent resales as being sexually aware.

lbtal ratings nor each statenent, nor each card, were
then tabulated. to test tOr the significance of the

- ‘7 -

re

-.
v .-
7 \
. I
.
.
. I . I ‘
4
'
I
K V
.
I f
V
a ’ I.
o
< t . m
K, ‘ V ~
. o
| v
‘ 7 a
C.
e
.
. ~ ! p.
. ‘
.u.
.
I.
‘ l
\
h ' ~ , .-
. ’ ‘0
i
e
‘ ‘ .
h o

the distribution of ratings for each statement the Null

Hypothesis was invoked. For our purposes, the Hull Hypothes-
is of no significance of the obtained distribution was tested
by the Chi-Square technique. By this statistical procedure.
the number of Judges selecting each rating numeral for a porn
ticular statement was tebulated. This step can be illus-
trated as follows:

lita- total number of Judges
”tub c: number of.3 Judges choosing that

 

rating
Rating 0., 1 2 ‘
H: ‘ N1 N2 N3 “3 Ks

‘ The Chi-Square
tchniqus allows us to posit any theoretical frequency of
choices for each cell. For the present procedure it was
posited.thet the.Judge's choices would be distributed random-
ly smug the cells. the hypothesis being that there would, by
chance. result an equal distribution. twenty percent of the

choices in eachcell.

the experimenter was interested in the probability of
Judge’s ratings piling up at the end of thetiistribution;
i.e., of ratingsOf 3 and k‘being chosen more often by the
Judgesfor the author's "strong” statements, and ratings of

0 and 1 being more prevalent for his "neutral” statements.

s.

ibis probability of the significance of the statements,

either strong or neutral, was then tested by means of the

Chi-Square formula.A

‘Since the authorwas interested in the obtained fre-
quencies being in an expected direction (having the judges.
agree with him that a particular statement was related or '
was not related to a specific hypothesis-theme); the Chie'

Square became a_one-tailed test of significance.

the

Not being exclusively concerned with the extreme rank-
ings. O or A. respectively for the various statements. the
two end categories were combined into one cell called the
lexpected direction, and the remaining three ratinggcategor-
ies similarly combined in a second cell; the nonrexpected
direction.. From the original five possibilities for each ~
statement there resulted.tvo cells a expected 78¢ nond
expected;.uith eXpected theoretical frequencies of forty
percent.cnd sixty percent..thus1yt .

 

2 ' t ‘ 2
- .4: -1.) -
1e where I6 is the obtained

frequency and f; is the theoretical frequency.‘ A correction
for continuity was employed as suggested by Edwards (L).

1$11in formula being ' X

- 49 -

0‘

Diggction Expected Non-expected

theoretical r: 40% 60%
Translated into numbers, 1‘. - 6.8 10.2
Exam

Hypothesis I, d: statement e in rating sheet

”This man is being kicked out of a
place after he got into a fight."

Ra ing A 0 1 2
fix 0 0 3 i 13

 

 

Qirection ' Expected i, Non-expected
to - - it. 3 '
f. 6.8 1002

O...“ -m‘-----udfian—-- -----a--e-- - u--- so- ------ 0. - nun“... In---

is a result of these calculations, the following num-
bers of statistically significant statements were found for

each card:

Cagg Eumger Strong directign Neutgal diregtion
. mi 3 2
3. a) 2 I.
1.. 1 HP) 2 5
2' 1 3 A
. 1 ) ' A 2
7O 2MOPOTO) 3 l.

-50-

From this pool of statistically significant statements

the final response items were chosen.

IIhe mean rating for

each statement was established. For the strong, or hypoth-

esis related, those two having the highest mean were selected

for each card. For the neutral statements the two possess-

ing the lowest mean ratings were taken. the final test

statements are shown separately as Table 6..

metre

f .

FINAL ms'r ITEMS. ”CHI-SQUARE SImIFIcmcs
LEVEL. AND MEAN RATING.

P. a
Card numbgr (th-Sgum) Meg

l. (18 an)

2. (7 an)

.001
.01
.001
.001
.01

.001

.001

3.2
3.0

.29

e29 '

3.2
3.0

.06

.29

W .
'ihis man is being kicked out
of a place after he got into

a fight. A
his man lost his temper and
his friend is holding him un-
til he cools off.

his man is being hel ed‘on
with his coat by a wa ter who
law he was having difficulty.
this man feels sick and is
about to faint, but his friends
are holding him up.

his man doesn't know hon much
longer'he can stand the older
man telling him what he can
can't dOe

mis man is thinking that he
knows as much about the work
as the supervisor, althougx
the guy is always telling him
how to do it. .
These men are watching an in-
teresting ball game on TV and
are talking about the score.
mess doctors are talking about
an Operation and are waiting
to examine the patient.

P.

ngg ggmber (Chi-Sguare) Mean
Jofk) .01 2.9
.05 2.7‘

.001 .06

.001 .29

- A. (13 MF) .05 2.0
.05 2.0

.001 .06

. .001 .13
5. (1) .001 3.2
.001 3.2

.001 .18

.001 .2h

6. (11) .01 3.1
.02 3.0

.001 .88

.02 1.0

- 52 -

IaaLE 6, Cont'd.

§§atement

This man doesn't like the way
the woman is always trying to
criticise his actions.

The man is thinking about how'

stupid this woman really is.
The man and woman are watching

a car accident and are about
to phone the hospital.

The man has Just won a prize
at the carnival and is wonder-
ing if his wife will like it.
His wife has been very sick
for the past month.

The man is wishing that his
wife would show more love

for him.

The husband is tired, but is
happy that he has satisfied
his WifOe

The husband is thinking about
how affectionate his to is.
The boy is thinking that he
can never learn to play the
Violin.

The boy is worried because he
cannot play as well as other
pupils.

'n1e boy is thinking that the
violin needs a new string.

me boy has finished his lee-
son and is going out to play.
This picture tells how every»
day dangers threaten man's
lifee

In this picture the men are
running from the monster, but
will not reach safety in time.
The animal is curious about
these two-legged creatures who
have built a path by his cave.
If men will stick together they
can meet and overcome every dan-
gOre ‘

InBLs 6, Concl'd.

P.
ngg number (Chi-Sguarg) mega Statement
7. (2) .001 3.& This girl has Just been kissed
; ' and she knows that the boy
wants to go farther.
.01 3.1 This girl knows the boy will
get fresh if they walk through
' the WOOdSe
.001 .Zk This girl is sad because the
sizatold her that her pet dog
e001 e21} his girl knOWB that the boy
wants to go fishing instead
01' to 8011001" ,

1%.”. .ihsth9399'~~~

The experimental hypotheses were stated in such a man-
ner as to predict that the Experimental Group . the Incest
Offenders - would score "higher," that is, more of them
would reveal stronger reactions to the separate cards than

the Control group.

For each card (i.e.. each hypothesis) the scores of
the three groups of subjects were compared by means of the
Chi-Square That. using the Hull Hypothesis of no difference
‘between the groups.‘ The Null Hypothesis in this case states
that the three groups used in the present experiment are
from a larger common population, and that the obtained scores
are random samples from this pepulation. As such they would
not be expected to differ from each other. Since the

- 53 -

experimental hypotheses predicted that the Incest Offenders
would have a greater frequency of strong reactions than the

controls, a one-tailed test of significance was employed.

.5)...

V'
RESULTS

3he eXperimental hypotheses

Hypothesis I: e, b, and c, addressed itself directly
to disturbances in the psychosexual area and was tested
experimentally by means of the Blacky Pictures. The three
areas of disturbance specifically investigated were: Oral
Eroticism (Card I), Oedipal Intensity (Card 1?), and Gas-
tration Anxiety (Card VI). The Chi-Square analysis of the
testing results is presented below for each separate

hypothesis.

TABLE 7 '
CHI-seams ANALYSIS 0? HIPOTaaaIs I-a.

_Qrel Eroticism b Blackx Card_;

 

 

 

Observed distribution Combined distribution
.9...:...++ .9... .2.
E: 16 5 9 16 15
S: 19 2 0 19
B: 12 7 1 12

(Table 7 concluded on p. 56)

-55-

Chi-Square Values and E.

E vs tot. Control: 8.076 .01 level of confidence
E vs 8: 12.582 .001 " " "

E vs 3: ~ .060 3.3.

E vs B: 3.632 H.S.

Table 7 indicates that the two Control sub-groups do
notdiffer significantly from.each other when compared by
means of Chi-Square. This is a two-tailed test of signifi-
canoe since no direction of difference is posited. The
statistical similarity of these two Control sub-groups al-
lows their combination into a larger Total Control Group of
forty-one subjects. When this Total Control Group was comp
pared with the Experimental subjects a significant difference
was obtained. Combining of the observed distributions into
n tour-celled table probably resulted in some loss of dis-

crimination.

-56-

TABLE 8
Gel-sweat Afifill‘filfi oar fi‘fPG'i‘zirSSIS I—b.

gestretion Anxiety - Eleckz‘Cerd VI

 

 

 

figserved distribution pombined distribution
n.2,.“ .9... .:....
E: 16 ll 3 16 ll
8: 17 3 l . 17 k
B: 1h 5 2 lb 6

hi-Sgunre Value; and P.

5 vs tot. Control: 8.076 .01 level of confidence
3 V3 3: 6.034 .02 ' * ”

E vs E: 1.56% 3.3.

3 vs 8: .233 3.3.

The comparison of the two Control subegroups resulted
in no significant difference being found. This allowed the
combining of these two groups into a larger Control group of
forty-one subjects again. then this larger group was some
pared with the Experimental subjects a significant difference
was obtained. Although the Incest group does not have such
a great frequency of severe disturbance, enaugh of them shoub
ed signs of‘nild disturbance to make the difference signifi-

cant.

TABLE 9
cur-scuaae ANALISIB or HIFOTHESIS I-c.

Oedigal Intensity ~ Blacky Card $1

 

 

Qbserved distribution Combined distribution
.2... .2... .2... .2... J—
E: 12 6 12 12 18
8: 15 3 15
E: 12 5 12 8

Chi-square Values_and P.

E vs tot. Control: 9.353 .01 level of confidence
E vs 8: 7.1.22 .01 " " "
i‘Vl B: 2.51 N.S.

3 vs a: .195 3.3.

Card 1?. testing the third area of psychosexual disturb-
ance, again results in a differentiation between the Experi-
mental and Total Control groups. The non-significance of
Chi-Square resulting from the comparison.of the two Control

sub-groups allowed the combining of then in this analysis.

The remaining three sub-sections of Hypothesis I dealt

with the present behavioral reactions of the preposed phallic

character. These included: d, the presence of aggressive

- 53 -

drives; e, attitudes of resentment toward authority; and f,
attitudes of contempt and hostility toward women. The three
areas mentioned here were investigated separately by means
of the picture-story cards described in an earlier section
of this report.

For each card the subject had one choice of four differ-
ent descriptions - two strong and two neutral. In the eta-
tietical analysis of the distribution of subjects the
chi-Square test was again employed. The frequencies of
choice within each group of subjects were shown as s dichot-
omy of strong vs neutral. The results of the Chi-Square
analysis of these portions of Hypothesis I are shown below.

TABLE 10
CHIeSQUARE ANALYSIS OF HYPOTHESIS I-d

Aggressive drives - T.A.T. card 18 BM
Observed distribution

Neutral m;
E: 18 12
38 12 9
B: 12 8

No significant differences between groups

- 59 -

No differences between groups are seen here. All
groups show a direction of preference Opposite to that pro-

posed by this hypothesis.

TABLE 11
CHI-SQUARE ANALYSIS OF HIPOTHESIS I-e.

“figsentment toward authority - 1.1.1. card 7 BM
Observed distribution

Neutral tron
E: 8 22
S: 10 11
B: 8 12

No significant differences between groups

No significant differences were found in these analyses.
In all three groups the majority of the subjects showed the
resentment toward authority by their preference for the

strong choices.

1.1.1. Card 5 resulted in a piling up of strong re-
sponses for all groups. No differences in the frequencies

of this type of reaction was found between any of the
group! e

TABLE 12
CHI-SQUARE AKALISIS 0F HIPOTHESIS I-f.

Contempt and hostility toward women - T.A.T. Cards;
Observed distribution

W £22225
Ex 2 28
S: 2 19
B: l 19

No significant differences between groups

Hypothesis II dealt with the perception of the wife as
unavailable for sexual purposes. One card was used to in-

vestigate this hypothesis. This analysis follows.
TABLE 13
CHI-SQUARE ANALYSIS OF HYPOTHESIS II

wife seen as unavailable - T.A.T. Card 13 HF
Observed distribution

gentral m
E: 7 23
S: 3 18
B: i b 16

no significant differences between groups

- 61 -

Card 13 MP also resulted in the majority of the Experi-
mental Group responding in the posited direction, but the
Control population had similar frequencies of choice. No

group differences were feund here.

Hypothesis III was divided into two parts. The first
investigated self-percepts of inability to compete or
achieve, and the second with the environment as being hos-
tile. These Chi-Square analyses are shown:

T5813 11.
CHI-SQUARE wmsxs or HYPOTHESIS III-e.
£9111» to jump.“ ~ nu: card 41,
Observed distribution

ma asses
E: 5 25
S: 2 19
B: k 16

No significant differences between groups

Table 1A indicates that similar pr0portions of subjects
in each group responded with the strong alternatives to
1.1.1. card 1. No significant differences result from this

analysis.

-52..

TABLE 15
CHI-SQUARE ANALYSIS OF HYPOTHBSIS III-b.

Heetile environment - T.A.T. card 11

_Qbserved distribution

Neutral gflgggyg
E: 17 13
S: 13 8
B: 15 6

No significant differences between groups

A perception of a hostile environment was not shown by
a.najority of any group. Although more Incest Offenders
shose the strong responses, the statistical test does not
indicate that the difference is significant.

TABLE 16
CHI-SQUARE ANALISIS or HYPOTHESIS Iv.

zerception of sexual awareness - MQP.T. card_g
‘Observcdmdistribution

Neutral Strong
Ex 22 8
3: 1k 7
B: 12 8

No significant differences between groups

-63-

QM.P.T. card 2, testing the final hypothesis, did not
result in any significant differences being found between
the groups. The greater proportion of subjects in each
group chose the neutral alternatives.

gurther eXperimental analysig

Since the complete Blacky protocol was available for
possible additional analysis, it was decided that two fur-
ther stories were to be scored which might provide an
additional identification of psychosexual factors preventing
mature adjustment, and which might differentiate the incest

offender from the control subjects.

Gard II of the Blacky 1. a possible elicitor of prob-
lems surrounding the oral sadistic stage of psychosexual
development. Individuals scoring high on this card would
be suspected of having some degree of fixation at the oral
sadistic stage, resulting from an unsatisfactory emotional
relationship with the mother.

Card 11 of this test is entitled "Guilt Feelings" and
indicates a strong super-ego or conscience if high scores
are obtained. It also is associated with perceptions of
punishment for some misdeed. Signs of a too strong super-
ego or conscience suggest that the Oedipal relationship

- 53 -

has not been satisfactorily resolved. It could also indi-
cate the perception of punishment or retribution by outside

agents for some transgression. This additional analysis

by means of the Chi-Square test is shown.

TABLE 17
CHI-SQUARE ANALYSIS OF SCORES 0N BLACK! CARD II.

Oral.Sadiem

 

 

Observed distribution gpmbined distribution
_9_.:....:.:.. .9... .2.
E: 15 11 k 15 15
S: 15 6 3 12 9
83‘ 12 7 1 ‘ 12 s

No significant differences between groups

Half the Experimental Group showed some signs of dis-
turbance in their responses to this card while the greater
proportion of the Controls did not. Statistical analysis
did not reveal the differences to be significant.

-65-

TABLE 18
CHI-SQ’ARE mamas OF 300333 on BLAcz-ir CARD IX.

cguilt Feelings

 

 

Observed distribution Combined distribution
.9. .2... - .11... .9... .1...
E: 1k 7 9 1h 16
S: 10 10 1 10 ll
3‘: 10 10 o 10 10

No significant differences between groups

The distribution of scores on Blacky card II indicates
a high frequency of disturbance for all groups. The proporb
tions ares so similar that the groups are not differentiated
from each other.

A final question might be raised here involving indi-
vidual subjects within each group. We have already
demonstrated some group differences in regard to the experi-
mental findings. We may now make an evaluation of the
individuals in each group who havecontributed to these dif-
ferences. By examination of the five stories from the Blacky
Test used in previous analyses, it is possible to assess the
total degree of pathology demonstrated by each individual by

- 66 -

summing the number of ”disturbed" scores for each subject.

Table 19, below; shows the nucleus of "most disturbed" indi-

vidusls within each group.

TABLE 19

CHI-SQUARE ANALISIS OF TOTAL AMOUNT OF PSYCHOSEIUAL
DISTURBANCE FOUND IN INDIVIDUALS WITHIN EACH
GROUP - THE FIVE BLACKI TEST CARDS

A - Individual Blacky protocols,
Number of cards scored

 

PQisturbed'

2:4 ‘ ‘ .3. 2;;
.E: t 10 16
'8: 11 g' 8 2
B: 7 . 7 6

Chi-gggare Values and P.
E vs e... Control: 22.293 .901 level of confidence
8 vs B: 2.939 N.8. ‘ -

B - By Percentage;

9.4.; .2... 1.3
I: 13 33 , 53
s: 52 38 10
a: 35 35 r 30‘

-67-

The distribution of generalized pathology as shown by
the number of Blanky cards scored disturbed, indicates that
a significantly greater preportion of individuals in the
Experimental Incest Group gave pathological responses in
most of the areas tested by the Blacky Pictures. Over half
of the individuals in this Experimental Group were marked
disturbed on three or four of the five cards they responded

to.

A.summary table of all the Chi-Square tests of signifi-

cance is presented at this point for easier reference.

TABLE 20
CHI-SQUARE SIGKIFICANCE LEVELS

A - The BlackyAIest Cards

.9339

_ _L._;I.-... .21... .11... .a...
E vs tot. Control: .01 N3. .01 .01 us.
s‘vo s: I .001 . N3. .0i .0: NS.
E vs a: as. NS. as. NS. as.
s to B: us. as. us. us. as.

B-- The Seven Picture-Story Cards

no significant differences obtained between groups

. 68 -

Q

Table 21 will give an indication ”f tee percentages of
subjects in each group showing reactions in the hypothesized
direction. On the Blaeky test this means scores in the
"disturbed" categories, and on the Picture-Story cards the

choice of a "strong" alternative.

1‘

OF "BJESTS IE EACH GdOUP
3 TdE TESTIEG

A - The Blacky Test (+ or ++ scoregl

‘StDZZ

I ’ II I? J; IX

3; 17 so 60 #6 53
s: 10 L3 29 19 52

a; to A0 t0 30 so

B -_Ihg_Picture-Stor10erds L"strong" reactions)

In 82!: .i. .9223. .3... 4;... .3...
E: #0 73 93 77 33 #3 27
S: #3 52 90 86 90 33 33
B: , £0 60 95 80 80 30 LC

 

-w-

VI
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

Ens egperimenta; hypothese§

Hypothesis I: a, b, and c, dealt with the psycho-
sexual fixations resulting in the personality structure
known as the phallic character. Substantial numbers of
the Incest Offender Group exhibited disturbance reactions
as measured by the Blacky Test: 47% in the area of Oral
Eroticism, 47% again for Castration Anxiety, and 60% in
Oedipal Intensity. When compared statistically with the
total Control Group, this Experimental Group of incest
offenders was significantly higher than the Controls in
all three areas. These hypotheses positing a greater
frequency of disturbance in the areas of Oral Eroticism,
Castration Anxiety, and Oedipal Intensity appear to be

supported.

Hypotheses I-d, I-e, and I-f were rejected because
of lack of significant statistical differentiation be-

tween the Experimental Group and the Control Group.

The tests investigating the statements of Hypotheses
II, III, and IV also failed to yield any differences be-

tween the Experimental and Control groups, and these

-70-

hypotheses must be considered as not supported.

Qispussion of the experimental findings

In comparing the two techniques of measurement, we
have seen that the Blacky Test was more successful in
eliciting the hypothesized reactions than was the picture-
story method devised for the present study. One explane .
ation is suggested here. The Blacky Test was designed
to elicit unconscious dynamics through having the subject
”project" his perceptions into a relatively unstructured
situation. Most subjects do not readily comprehend or
understand the full meaning and implication of their re-
sponses. Cues thus gained by the investigator from the
subject's spontaneous productions are then evaluated;
this process being based on the results of prior empirical
studies. Certain types and directions of responses, not
always apparently pathological, have been shown to be

associated with deeper unconscious processes;

The T.A.T. from which the present pictureéstory
card technique was developed has a similar theoretical
foundation in the association of perceptions with deeper
mental processes. The methodology used in this investi~
gation may have been, however, more subject to ego control
and intellectual direction on the part of the subjects;

The responses elicited may have been closer to the

- 71 -

consciousness, the subject having more opportunity to

diapassionately evaluate the alternatives offered before
selecting his response. The present results may be more
a reflection of conscious thinking, rather than that of

unconscious motivations.

ihile not supporting the hypotheses that the Incest
Offender Group would reveal a greater frequency of dis-
turbance in all areas, the experimental data contain
findings relevant to the original assumption that these
incest offenders would give evidence of personality
traits associated with the concept of the phallic char-

actera

This concept of the phallic character implies certain
strong psychosexual fixations. These fixations were demon-
strated in substantial numbers of the incest offenders.
While the exact frequencies of occurrence among the general
populace is unknown, it is unlikely that such high propord
tions of disturbance would be found in a random selection

of normal adults.

The remaining findings dealing with current behavioral
reactions also give many indications that the incest offend-
ers fit into the theoretical formulations suggested. Of
interest is the hogh percentage showing hostility toward

-72-

women, and also a perceived rejection by the wife. flhe
psychoanalytic picture presented by Fenichel (7) and Blum
(1) of generalized resentment toward authority is also
supported. rThe high frequency of occurrence of a poor
self-concept appears to be in line with the observed fail-

ures in mature adjustment found in this group.‘

In summary, these incest offenders seem to be suffer-
ing from a generalized immaturity reaction. They are very
dependent and passive. 'A strong unresolved Oedipus Complex

is shown by our testing.

The similarity of responses shown by each group in the
experimental picture-story testing suggests that some per- ‘
captions may be general to a prison population. "The selfb'
picture of inability to compete successfully with others is
prominent in all groups, and is coupled with a resentment to-
ward authority figures by most offenders. Feeling of aggres-‘
sion may be a reaction to these perceived frustrations. '
Their attitudes toward women ShOW'up very prominently, with
hostility and contempt being indicated almost universally.‘
The acknowledgment of the feeling that women are unavailable
for sexual relations is realistic to a deprived prison popu-
lation, but may be associated at a deeper level with per-
sonal failures to achieve satisfactory mature relationships.

Guilt feelings or fears of punishment were shown by half of

-73..

all the subjects tested. Since these men were all im-
prisoned for a period of time, there can be no exact dif~
ferentiation between an internalized super-ego guilt re-
action or merely a reality-based perception of punishment

for social transgressions.

The final analysis of the experimental data, shown
as Table 19 above, was a comparison of the number of most

disturbed individuals within each group.

This Table shows that the Incest Offender Group con-
tains a much higher number of severely disturbed individ-
uals. The two Control sub-groups possess far smaller
numbers of subjects revealing a generalized or total dis--
turbance in the psychosexual area. Over half of our incest
felons fell into the generally disturbed category as deter-
mined by the summing of the five Blacky scores. This pro-
portion is highly significant when compared with the Control
offenders. he may conclude that there is a greater likeli-
hood of finding generalised psychosexual disturbances in an

individual convicted of the crime of incest.

Glueck (9) investigated the same three types of offené
ders employed in the present study. Some comparisons of
results will be presented here. For easier identification
we shall call the groups by similar names. The incest
offenders in both studies are the Lagggg Gr u , the present

-7...

sex-control group and his "Heterosexual Hebephilia" are

fig; 9253221,§:gup,.and the two non-sex groups are yon-
Se; Contrgl. Table 23 contains the numerical data found

in both studies, while Table 2h presents psychological ra-

tings of disturbance shown in the tastings of each study..

Glucck presented median I.Q.'s for his groups based
on the techsler-Bellevue, Full Scale score. Tests of sig-
nificance between his sex offender I.Q.'s and the two sex
groups in the present study would probably indicste some“
differences; but the most interesting comparison is that
the two studies suggest that these sex offenders cluster

around the Average range of adult intelligence.

median ages of the prison offenders are also presented
in Glueck‘s Sing Sing studya Again, small differences are

noted between the two studiesy Suggested hero is the tendency
for those sexual crimes to be committed in the fourth and
fifth decades of the individual‘s lifec

In comparing the number of children for each of the of-
fender groups, we find that the incest offenders in both
studies average larger families: This is partly a function

of the higher ago of this type of offender but also suggests
the possibility that the frustrations associated with more
responsibility and louwineomo play a role in this sort of

sexual crime.

. 75 .

 

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- 76 -

Tho comparisons table also indicates that those incest
offenders are not habi ual law-breakers. Antiusocial acting
out behavior does not play an important part in their lives.
Tho more extensive personal pathology appears to be the most

important factor in their criminal actions.

The two studies reveal that these sexual crimes, the in-_
cast behavior expccially, take place with the younger adoles-
cent female. These girls are barely out of puberty, but are
treated as sexually nature by these offenders. This fact
further suggests the psychological immaturity of those indi-
viduals and their distortion of the usual heterosexual
ralationship. It points out their inability to relate
satisfactorily with adult females. ‘

'hilo not tabulated in the present study, Gluock finds
that twenty-two percent of his Incest Group were diagnosed as
later. chronic alcoholics, another forty~eight percent showed
modcrato alcoholism (more than heavy social drinking), and an
additional twenty-two percent were classed as aocial drink-
ers. Thus, ninety~two percent of his Incest Group indicated
the posssibility of alcohol as a precipitating or control-

loocening factor in their offense.

Gluock's subjects were given an over—all rating on

psychouaexual disturbances, based on psychological teat

findings (?lac k7 Test, Ror schach, T.A.T., and H~?vP), plus
interview and case Motory r.'xtiM a. It must be remembered
that Glueck 'a offsniers wore an unsoloct- ad, consa cutivc
sample, whereas the present study excluded psychotics and
mental defectives. Those rat in 05 Pro prosontsi in Table 2A

as a comparison with the findings of the present study.

T.t: IL: 22*
COAPiflISON 0F PiBoLJT FL JIF"J
«lid T3083 OF GLUECK
(In Percentages)

Disturbance Rating;)jnild and narkodl

Oral ers; Dedip. Castr. Guilt
Brut. ‘§§2&' 'Intan. gear . Foal.

Egocent Stud!

 

Incut: #7 50 60 b3 53

Cont-Sax: 10 #3 I 29 19 52

Cont-3&3: . H0 40 A0 30 . 50
lccck

Incest: 65 ‘47 71 76 83

Cont-Sax: 77 50 7C 67 33

Ron-Sax; 50 53 54 it 80

I

Li“1£ L 32 2t,tkv 222122: 22 22'

.—

 

L 22322122 of T22 : 1 1:: 222 23:32 323 graups 2222 22%

223 tad for age. 3% 22 In neest 21:3222r2 h: d tF2 hz~za3u mce3n
.132 ex3ct efL ct t3ifi' this dia 223222: had upon $32 rc-
:3122 ‘ the 12V2nti§32132 12 n22 known. 211 22252222 1

2g 2: 2222 the early prriod 12 which paychOJHLthic tater?
at Era t2 t tha psycho~2uxu3l fixatiann tske 21322. £322lly,
hawevsr, 23b5 cts c3312 h v2 teén ‘lkcqu {or 232 22025 the
three 520323.

3 more obvious shortcoming 12 the lack of a control
populatian of ”norflrl“ 2233cts. 320222? cantrol firaup of
indiviauals who 222 had us prior canllicb with th2 law. 2nd
230 22' 2 tbs r223i33rg critaria. 222d in 222 pr:.:::2t study
Hamid allcw brOLdfir c22narisonn 22$ gencrs ‘12::1023. it is
difficult to 222222 the 22ount or pa;cho~a*xu3l pxthola,y to
be found in L22 nv¢rmge populatian aince these "normals" do

not came 1 to cunts ct W1 uh evrluxting agencies.

2 third 1132 222132 13 2 possible hits effact caused by
the 2322r132nter being 22 only p2r2cn concern2d with the so.
tual invaattgation. Selecticn of the cases £12211y use
isvalvad 233212; 2227 of the 3222113 cf the subjact'a life,
nni 02p2c1211y 223221921323 of his bah2viar d2vi3tions.
1252123 and 62921232250 82.2 infiividu21 n“ hvve proéucvd
2232 232722212 a bias 2023 r33 ”222123" more peahology in the
Ezp2riq2ntul Qroup, or 21322125 632 r2mult2 in $36 1"“95ufi0

21322 diruction.

VII
SUI-fih‘iifl MED CONCLU SION3

The present study represents an investigation of certain
personality factors derived from psychoanalysis, and their
relationship to the crime of father-daughter incest. Per-
sonality traits descriptive of the psychoanalytic concept of
the I'Phallic Character" were presented as hypotheses to be
confirmed.

Three hypotheses suggested the continued presence of
disturbances in the {allowing psychosexnal areas: Oral
Eroticism, Oedipal Intensity, and Castration Anxiety. Three
more hypotheses were concerned with current behavioral re-
actions associated with the dynamics to be found in the
Phallic Character; i.e., the presence of aggressive drives,
resentment toward authority, and a contempt and hostility
toward women. The final {bur hypotheses contained predic-
tions concerning perceptions expected from this type of
individual. These included perception of the wife es un-
available sexually, a self-percept of inability to compete
successfully with others, perception of the environment as
hostile, and perception of young adolescent females as being
interested in heterosexual activity.

The subjects used in this investigation included an I
ow-

Experimental Group of thirty Incest Offenders and a Control
Group of forty-one other prisoners. The Controls were sub-
divided into one group of twenty-one men convicted of
statutory rape against nonprelated minor females, and a
second group of twenty men imprisoned for the felony of
Breaking and Entering. All subjects achieved I.Q.'s of 80
or above. No subject had a prior history of arrest for a
sexual or assaultive crime, and no subject had been previ-
ously diagnosed as psychotic or severely disturbed mentally.
Analysis of the data on the subjects indicated that the In-
cest.0ffenders had a higher mean age than either of’the
Control sub-groups. The Incest Offenders had more children,
and as a group had come into less conflict with the law
prior to the commission of the cries for which they were D
incarcerated.

Instruments used in this investigation were the Blacky
Pictures test, six cards from the Thematic Apperception Test,
and one card from the Michigan Picture Test. The latter .
seven cards were presented to the subjects, and scored, ac—~
cording to‘a method devised for the present study. Tests
. of hypotheses were made by comparing the responses of each
group by means of Chi-Square.

The statistical comparisons indicated that the Incest
Offender Group had a significantly greater frequency of the
proposed reactions on three of the ten hypotheses tested.

- 31 -

These differences were in the areas of Oral Eroticism, Cas-
tration Anxiety, andOedipal Intensity. These three hy-
potheses were supported.

The remaining seven eXperimental hypotheses were re-
jected as the Incest Offenders did not reveal a significant-
ly higher frequency of the responses expected by the design
of the study.

The Incest Offender Group had a significantly higher
number of individuals who were judged as generally disturbed
in the psychosexual areas, as measured by their responses
to five Blacky Pictures cards.

A discussion of the limitations of this study and of
the instruments employed was presented, and the current re-
sults were comparedwith those found in a similar study done
at Sing Sing Prison. Suggestions for-further research were
made.

general Remarks

The present investigation is one of the very few now;
available in which incest offenders, as a separate group,
have been studied. No other studies have been found in
which the personality dynamics of the incest offender have
been examined psychologically. . i;

The present investigation by no means exhausts the

- 82 .

potential of this»group of offenders to yield more knowledge
in the field of personality dynamics. Studies of non~
offenders would probably yield many individuals possessing
the same constellation of personality factors as our incest
offenders. Why, then, have these others not proceeded on

to commit this crime? Answers to this question would call
for a.multiodimensional investigation. Ideally, the victim-
daughters and the wives of these offenders should be studied
thoroughly. If possible, the parents of the offenders should
be included in this type of investigation.

In addition to the socialapsychological types of in-
vestigation suggested above, a more intensive depth evalu-
ation of these incest offenders is desirable. Again, the
projective methods would seem to be most suitable for
eliciting the necessary information.

Suggested topics for such an investigation would in-
clude the offender's perceptions of significant peeple in
his environment: his parents, wife, children and other im—
portant figures in his interpersonal world. One would also
need to investigate his characteristic reactions to these
peOple.

The incest offender's typical defense mechanisms should
be evaluated; their direction, effectiveness, and results.
His total sexual life needs to be studied more carefully,
especially his marital relationships and his psychological

-33..-

distortion or repression of the universal incest taboo.

Finally, an interesting and valuable area of investi-
gation would concern itself with the concept of ego con-
trols of these offenders. It has been mentioned earlier
that alcohol was one factor in weakening these controls.

Heither the present study nor the Sing Sing investi-
gation has brought up the problem of treatment of these
offenders. Both studies have indicated that these men are
the sickest of all sex offenders evaluated, as a group.
Like cancer, isolation of the specific irritant is not
enough. Treatment, and eventually prevention, should be
the true goal. Unlike cancer, sexual pathology is not a
very popular subject for research, in regard to support by
the public. At the present time, subsequent review of ac-
cumulated records frequently directs light on the accumu-
lating and developing pathology in the life of the sexual
offender. In the future, knowledge resulting fron.many
areas of investigation should be put to use to prevent and
correct the development of such pathology.

.3)...

1.

3.

4.:

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7.

8.

9.

10.

ll.

12.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

BLUE, 0. S. Psychoanalzgic Theories of Personality.
ea or : «cerauufiaII, 1933‘

BLUE, G. S. The Blacky Pictures. New York: Fsycho-
logical Corporation, 1950

Blah, G. 3. Revised Scoring System fer Research Use
of the Blacky Pictures. Male Form - 1951.
.Mimeogrephed

EDsARDS, A. 'Statisticel Anal is. New York:
n , 9:5

ELLIS, A., R. R. DOORBAR.&.R. JOHHSTOH Characteristics
of Convicted Sex Offenders. . soc
PSYChOls’ 1951.. ‘9. 3.1,

ELLIS, A. &.R. BRsHCALK; The Fs cholo of Sex Offenders
Springfield: 6. 5. Thomas.‘I9§5

FSNICHEL, OTTO The choanel i Theo of Neurosis
flew Tori: W. i. §oréon. 15£5-'

moses, J. a 3. 530353330 The Sex Offender . s psychiatric
study. Amer, 1. 0mm” 1939, 9. 761-776

GLUECK, B. 0., Jr.,.E.D. Final Re ort. Research Project
fer the Stud and eatment‘gz Persons
onvmed 92 times Involvin Sexu
erret one. - no p651 er, no date

 

 

KARPMAN, B. The Sexual Offender and His Offenses. New
York: The 3EIIan Press,‘I§5

KAUFfiAS, I, A. L. PEEK.&.C. K. TAGIURI The Family Con-
stellation and Overt Incestuous Relation-
ships between Father and Daughter.
Psychist. Quart.. 27, January l95h. 17-29

LINDNER, H. The Blacky Pictures Test: A study of

sexual and non-sexual offenders. J. .
Tech., 1953. 17, 79-8h

- 35':

13.

15.

15.

17.

18.

19.

BIBLIOGRRPHY - Concl'd.

The Michigan Picture Test. Chicago:
Science Research Associates. 1953

MURBDCK, G. P. In HOCH & ZUBIN Psychosexu§;_DeveloEe

ment in Health and Disease How Yer 2

6111313.; filtration, i l.‘

meant, a. A.

esteem, L.

RIEMER, 5.

31433310. 8.

Thematic Apperception Test manual
Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 19A}

The Role of the Parent in the Oedi s Com-
55.35 ‘gnll..Eeningg Clin., 1955, 9,

Report 9; the Governor's Study Commission
on t e beviatea Sex afren er. “tats o
'EIcEIEan, '

A Research dots on Incest. _§mer. J. Socig;;,
1950. #5. 566-575

on arametric Statistics for the Behavioral
gciences Few YcrE: Efifiraw-HIII, 1953

- 35 -

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