Incest -- what's the appeal?

[Wilson23]

Lit has a whole section of incest porn.

Most of us never do anything like that IRL because of the Westermarck effect -- makes all mentally healthy people go "Eewww!" at the thought of sex with a close relative. (Not counting cousins, but that's never nearly as creepy -- there are some cultures where marriage between first cousins is compulsory, to keep property within the family. Keep that up a few generations and all the nasty recessive genes will be bred out, no Deliverance scenario likely.)

So why is it stuff for fantasy?

I can undertand it as between steps -- the Westermarck effect doesn't operate there, since they're not raised together from childhood, and with the kind of mix-and-match families that have become normal since the Sexual Revolution, the world must be full of teenagers horny for their stepsiblings, that's normal. But why is there parent/child-brother/sister porn?

I mean written porn, of course. Video can't really break this taboo -- you can pair any two performers of more or less the same color and say they're related, but that cannot have whatever thrill people find in this.

 

[JC1981]

Well, I can’t speak for everyone. But, the appeal to the subject of incest so first the taboo aspect. The “we shouldn’t be doing this.” That makes it more hott. And second, when you are with a family member is a different feeling. My sister and I messed around when we were younger. And we felt we could trust the other person fully. And there is a different type of love that isn’t there with. Boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife relationship. Now, when my cousin and I hooked up a few years ago. It was just about the sex. Friends with benefits. But, also, we trusted each other so it made it more meaningful. Like I said I don’t speak for everyone. That is just how I feel.

 

[Loyalish1245]

Well, I can’t speak for everyone. But, the appeal to the subject of incest so first the taboo aspect. The “we shouldn’t be doing this.” That makes it more hott. And second, when you are with a family member is a different feeling. My sister and I messed around when we were younger. And we felt we could trust the other person fully. And there is a different type of love that isn’t there with. Boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife relationship. Now, when my cousin and I hooked up a few years ago. It was just about the sex. Friends with benefits. But, also, we trusted each other so it made it more meaningful. Like I said I don’t speak for everyone. That is just how I feel.

Thanks for an honest answer

 

[JC1981]

Thanks for an honest answer

You’re welcome.

 

[spiidermonkey]

I'm curious about people's answers too. I've been fascinated with violations of this taboo since I was first exposed to the concept in reading at a pretty early age. I was never interested in any one of my relations in that way, but as an idea, a taboo concept, I've been turned on by it for as long as I can remember and I don't really understand why.

 

[Loyalish1245]

It was a safe place to explore for my sister and I. No judgement, no worry about being good or bad, and also no lifelong obsession. I can read a story with it, but it usually has to be loving not rough/coerced.

I had two loving parents. I had a good home life. Mostly it happened because we were curious and it was a safe place

 

[LFM90]

I definitely think it’s a hot topic and read alot of the stories on the subject. And truthfully I have had a crush on a couple of my aunts and female cousins.
So any insight as to why it such a turn on and any other information on the subject would be helpful

 

[TomTeacher19]

It's the excitement of the taboo combined with someone you do know well and who you likely know about their body and sexual history and activities more than most. And you likely have some level of care or like or love or closeness or intimacy or trust or whatever with them already too.

 

[JC1981]

I'm curious about people's answers too. I've been fascinated with violations of this taboo since I was first exposed to the concept in reading at a pretty early age. I was never interested in any one of my relations in that way, but as an idea, a taboo concept, I've been turned on by it for as long as I can remember and I don't really understand why.

The taboo part really stemmed from society saying it is wrong. If a mother loves her son. She be allowed to show him the proper way to make love. And if a brother and sister want to explore they should be allowed to. Better than them hooking with some jerk at school.

 

[ericalauren]

Incest does not appeal to me at all. That being said, the first novel I ever tried to write involved incest. It was a science fiction novel about a comet coming towards Earth. The main character is an astrophysicist who becomes romantically and sexually involved with his half-sister.

 

[Loyalish1245]

Incest does not appeal to me at all. That being said, the first novel I ever tried to write involved incest. It was a science fiction novel about a comet coming towards Earth. The main character is an astrophysicist who becomes romantically and sexually involved with his half-sister.

Sounds like a fun concept with or without the incestual component

 

[spiidermonkey]

I've been turned on by it for as long as I can remember and I don't really understand why.

I should add, I'm not trying to change it. I used to be bothered by the fact this arouses me, but now I just accept it's part of me. I'm just curious what people think about it and how it affects them.

 

[MindYaBitness]

I don't understand it, and usually I try to research and understand kinks that aren't my own. However, this is one of the few areas where I can't even get through a story without being overwhelmed with disgust.

I'm the youngest and only daughter in my family, and the thoughts of my father or any of brothers looking at me that way makes my skin crawl. In addition, my spouse was a detective for the bulk of his career in law wnforcement. Incest does not exist without a power dynamic, and child on child abuse is on the rise due in large part to kids being exposed to this kind of porn (usually without the parents knowledge) and the older kid gets in their head that the younger kid wants it or they groom, the younger child.

I keep track of threads like this so that I can put anyone on ignore who tries to defend it or is into it. I never want to engage with them. If you find my intolerance offensive, feel free to put me on ignore

 

[LFM90]

I should add, I'm not trying to change it. I used to be bothered by the fact this arouses me, but now I just accept it's part of me. I'm just curious what people think about it and how it affects them.

When I was much younger it bothered me so much that I had those types of fantasies that it drove me crazy. But now as I’m older I realize you can’t help who you are attracted to

 

[MindYaBitness]

The taboo part really stemmed from society saying it is wrong. If a mother loves her son. She be allowed to show him the proper way to make love. And if a brother and sister want to explore they should be allowed to. Better than them hooking with some jerk at school.

There's a book that was put out by The Children of God, a cult now known as The Family, that says essentially this exact thing in details a mother loving her son. That child grew up very unwell and eventually killed himself. You should read the stories of the survivors of that culture.

 

[Wilson23]

Oh, and, yes, I have read Heinlein's Time Enough for Love.

 

[Wilson23]

There's a book that was put out by The Children of God, a cult now known as The Family

This?

 

[MindYaBitness]

This?

Moses David was the leader, yep that's them

 

[Wilson23]

Any conceivable jokes along the lines of, "But, Judge, what can a gal do if her grandpa incests?!" shall be taken as stipulated. Any "game the whole family can play" jokes shall die under torture.

 

[briancamdudetenger2018]

i guess its human nature lol or curiousity lol lol

 

[LustALot]

I'm curious about people's answers too. I've been fascinated with violations of this taboo since I was first exposed to the concept in reading at a pretty early age. I was never interested in any one of my relations in that way, but as an idea, a taboo concept, I've been turned on by it for as long as I can remember and I don't really understand why.

Same here. I get the 'ick' reaction just considering any of my relatives sexually. But I do love reading about it here, I'd have to say it's the taboo nature that is fascinating. I guess I allow my fantasy world a broader spectrum than the real world...

 

[Wilson23]

I mean, of course there are ample literary precedents for this theme . . . but Oedipus Rex ain't exactly porn . . .

 

[Wilson23]

I mean, of course there are ample literary precedents for this theme . . . but Oedipus Rex ain't exactly porn . . .

The existence of long-established incest themes in literature suggests this taboo has often been broken throughout history, either in reality or in rumor.

Probably more often in rumor. It's like cannibalism -- there are real documented instances, like the whole Aztec religion,* but specific reports often turn out to be of something that other tribe in the next valley does, everybody knows those bastards will eat their own mothers, and not in a fun incestuous way.

* Usually only a sacrificial victim's heart need be offered to the god -- the rest could be eaten. And since their only other meat was turkey . . .

 

[Stephie02]

Again, just to be clear, Oedipus and Jocasta didn't know, and when they found out Jocasta (in Sophocles) kills herself, Oedipus gouges out his eyes, and their sons kill each other in war over the throne. Not an endorsement, and very ill named and I'll interpreted by Freud.

 

[Wilson23]

Again, just to be clear, Oedipus and Jocasta didn't know, and when they found out Jocasta (in Sophocles) kills herself, Oedipus gouges out his eyes, and their sons kill each other in war over the throne. Not an endorsement, and very ill named and I'll interpreted by Freud.

Freud stated clearly that Oedipus himself did not have that complex.

But the name was too appropriate not to use.