The Appeal of Incest

[dr_mabeuse]

Apparently incest is the most popular story category on Literotica.

I've never cared for incest, and have never understood what's so damned exciting about sex with a family member. Could someone maybe tell me?

---dr.M.

 

[destinie21]

I think people love the taboo.

 

[English Lady]

It has to be the taboo thing but I don't get it....

 

[Colleen Thomas]

i don't read much inthe incest category Doc, but i will take a stab at your question. I think incest (and to a lesser degree interacial) have such appeal because they are taboo,but not unusual, for lack of a better word. It's still sex, no whips, chains, rubber dolls, boots, or anything alien. At the same time it's forbidden fruit and therefore has it's own appeal simply because it is forbidden fruit.

Best answer I have,

-Colly

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I think people love the taboo.

Well, sure it's taboo, but there are lots of taboos that don't generate the interest the incest does.

Maybe it's just me, but I always thought that people who are into incest are kind of pitiful, like they can't get a date with anyone but sis or Mom. There's also something just inherently juvenile about it, like peeking at Mom while she's on the toilet or something.

But look, this is the Author's Hangout and there's a lot of you out there who do incest stories all the time. You're authors; you're supposed to be articulate. Someone at least try and explain to me what's so appealing about fucking a family member.

---dr.M.

 

[MathGirl]

Someone at least try and explain to me what's so appealing about fucking a family member..

Dear Dr M,
I've always wondered about that, too. The idea doesn't do a thing for me. Like others, the only thing I can think of is the appeal of something taboo. I'd like to hear a more reasonable explanation, though.
MG
Ps. I did make a minor contribution to DurgGurl's "Patty and the Jukes," but I only made small points concerning animal husbandry, not incest.
Pps. Well, okay, there's "Mom and Me." I wish people would let me forget that one.

 

[Guest]

Mab., excuse me, but I don’t think you’re being as thoughtful with your query as deserves a thoughtful answer, but I’ll give you one. You say there are lots of taboos—no, there are not all that many outside some very particular forbidden religious practices. Sacred is usually attached to a taboo practice (e.g., sex with a family member or a corpse); that is key here.

Yes, there are many sexual practices that are repugnant to a majority but they do not fall into the classic taboo category. Bestiality is generally repugnant but it’s not a taboo on a par with incest. I also don’t believe interracial sex can be called a real taboo these days— those who are against it mostly have an inherited prejudice or have more political reasons for their distaste than anything related to the sexual. I don’t think there are a majority of men, even in the Old South, who regard white women so sacred that the idea of a black man touching them is akin to religious blasphemy. They simply choose to state the usual white-supremacist dogma in favor of keeping their dead caste system. (Yeah, I’m using generalities but I think you can get my point, which is not political.)

You are flippant in your statement about the juvenility involved in incest, or the pity with which you view those who can’t get dates outside the home. Incest is not about dating or romance. It really is about the primal and the taboo. One need not know or espouse any psychology to recall the way young boys view their mothers and young girls their fathers. I well recall the utter passion and real sensuality with which my young sons used to say they loved me or wanted to marry me when they grew up. I had the same feelings for my father before attaining the “use of reason”.

So why are incest stories hot on Lit.? I must answer with a rhetorical question: How much more can one combine the taboo with the sacred?

I’ve read Lit. incest stories because many of them really do have more stroke per line than others; somehow it’s built into the nature of the plots. But I find many are falsely labeled “incest”. Those are the type that give great stroke but the characters are nearly disinterestedly labeled daddy, sis, mom, etc. Real incest stories must inherently be tragic

That’s enough. These were just my ideas at the moment. I’m not espousing anything, let alone my own opinions.

Perdita

 

[Uncle Meat]

Apparently incest is the most popular story category on Literotica.

I've never cared for incest, and have never understood what's so damned exciting about sex with a family member. Could someone maybe tell me?

---dr.M.

Well, I dunno. The one story I've posted so far is an incest story, although I don't have any particular interest in the subject in real life. The first draft of part one had a neighbor for the female lead, but I thought it needed more... zing. Transmogrifying her into a daughter, and making appropriate adjustments, seemed to spice it up just right.

But then that led to another story, now pending approval, that has a married couple (older man-younger woman) role playing father-daughter incest. I do have something of a real-life interest in role playing.

 

[destinie21]

okay Doc. as usual you forced me to really think. I guess the reason so many people are into incest is because it's a big taboo. It's the thing that's literally been forbidden since birth. It's THE unattainable. Right? I can write it and I have but to me I can't get past the relationship factor. I have two siblings, one sister and one brother and while they're both very attractive smart well rounded people I can't get past the bonds we made as children and see any way that they would be sexual creatures.

 

[raphy]

Yeah, it's a taboo, but there's more to it than that.

If we're all so turned on by brains, personalities and intellect, why are playboy and penthouse full of women made up to look like they're in the early 20s, or late teens? Because we like youth, exuberance. Because we're taught that tight young fit firm bodies are sexually attractive.

Now look at the Daddy/Daughter thing - Here's a man who's probably going through his mid-life crisis. Maybe the sex in his marriage has dried up, or at least gotten tame and stale. Suddenly he turns around and without him noticing, from somewhere, he's got this exceptionally attractive young 18-year old girl living in his house. She's wearing revealing clothing, she hugs him with abandon, and she's totally devoted to him.

Mother/Son? Here's a woman who's nurtured her boy, loved him, cared for him, kissed his hurts as he grew up. She cared for him when he was ill. Maybe she's still a good looking woman, even a bit later in life. Maybe her husband doesn't pay attention to her anymore, because he's off wanting that youth that I talked about earlier.

There's solid, verifiable, documented psychological reasons why incest happens. Not saying that it's right, but there are reasons.

 

[Guest]

Suddenly he turns around and without him noticing, from somewhere, he's got this exceptionally attractive young 18-year old girl living in his house.

Raff, you're citing incest via Lit. and fantasy. Real incest does not necessarily involved attractive girls. Often enough they are overweight and very low in self-esteem even before Dad gets to them. And they are often much younger than 18 and nowhere near what you would call a sexual creature. Your theory only fits Lit. stories. Again, real incest is always tragic.

'dita

 

[Linbido]

Yes, it's all about the taboo

Dr M, you say that there are many other taboos. I have to disagree, at least here on Lit, Incest is the single most taboo category. Let me explain:

Apart from the real extremeties of rapes and snuff stories (are those even on Lit?), incest clearly is the most forbidden fruit you can read about on this site.

(I'm not going to include erotic horror, tentacle porn or mind control in my reasoning, because they play a different game, by not trying to be anything but pure figments of imagination.)

I don't read incest, because the subject don't intrerrest me in any special way, but I do think I understand the appeal behind the category.

Incest is not accepted in society. Whereas all kinds of homo- and bisexuality, sodomy, interracial relations, bondage, sub/dom relations and massive record breaking orgies are all accepted, some as a public part of the world or some at least in the privacy of one's home between consenting adults. It might be frowned upon, but the politically correct view is that whatever gets you're groove on, go ahead and explore. But still, even the slightest 'normal' sexuality between family members is still verry much forbidden.

Incest stories also benefits from their vanilla nature. Even though it's taboo, forbidden and a bit dirty, the actual sex is most often simple, consentual one-on-one fucking, the kind of sex-acts that most readers wants to read about. Incest stories and fantasies in general gives it's readers the chance to indulge in taboo and forbidden situations without having to venture into actual sex-acts that could be too extreme to turn them on.


Dita is right though. Real incest situations are vrey far from the glorified fables on Lit. (moreso than other 'real life' categories) and has most often to do with weak people using and abusing even weaker ones. It's sad, ugly and not glamorous at all.

 

[raphy]

Raff, you're citing incest via Lit. and fantasy. Real incest does not necessarily involved attractive girls. Often enough they are overweight and very low in self-esteem even before Dad gets to them. And they are often much younger than 18 and nowhere near what you would call a sexual creature. Your theory only fits Lit. stories. Again, real incest is always tragic.

'dita

Point taken, 'dita - I was merely giving my reasons why incest on Lit is one of the most popular categories. You're right, of course. Real incest almost never has a happy ending. Lit incest is fantasy incest, and the reasons I gave above are what sparks those fantasies.

 

[Deadly Joker]

Hi everyone Occasional lurker replying here.

This is an interesting question, and I guess I'm in some position to answer as I not only have an incest story posted, but one that's in the Halloween contest of all things (and I've been really pleased with the response, I gotta say). Another incest story is going up shortly.

I think the strongest thing about it is the archetypes. We all have really intense feelings when we hear the words mom/dad/brother/sister/son/daughter, so the author gets a head start in fleshing out those characters and making them come alive. Contrast that with the story of let's say...a pool-cleaning guy, when most readers probably have never even had a pool.

As for incest being tragic, that's probably true, and there are a few excellent stories I've read that really resound with that 'real life' feel. However, I think of my own stories more as 'Twilight Zone' episodes, or fevered dreams...maybe campfire stories...I don't think every single last detail of tedious real life needs to be in there to make a good story; some things can be larger than life

One last note is that I quite dislike the 'totally happy ending' (and, thinking of my own stories, hopefully I've avoided that and at least gone 'ambiguous'). Stories where everybody's happily fucking away and getting each other pregnant and pledging their lives to each other at the end (or even worse, at the start) are lame, imo. If incest stories are about anything, it's conflict, conflict, conflict.

Oh, and one last note, for those who were wondering...no connection to any 'real life' desire at all.

 

[MathGirl]

Someone at least try and explain to me what's so appealing about fucking a family member.

Dear Dr M,
After reading this thread, I went to the incest section and scanned a few things. I've always thought of incest as sex between immediate family members. Many of the stories on Lit involve cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. Is that really incest?

Oh, a guy with his wife's sister also seems popular. I think of that more as stupidity than incest.

Naively,
MG

 

[gauchecritic]

Incest and the interest in incest, seems to me, to come from the models available when our sexual interest begins to develop. From the age of two apparently. Who are virtually the only available models at that age? Parents and siblings. Extended family that visit often can be included too.

Consider: With whom did you first play 'cheekies'? Consider too the lyrics from Tap Turns on The Water by CCS: 'Peep through the bathroom door. (did you ever, did you ever) See your sister in the raw?.' Lastly, and I don't necessarily espouse this as truth or applicable, animals in the wild have no taboo whatsoever about incest; the strongest male rules and takes all available females.

The human taboo, I think, is an enforced one, enforced externally and internally by culture, religion and law.

In the world of pedigree husbandry, breeders have no compunction whatsoever about breeding close kin for desirable attributes.

So the fruit is only forbidden for humankind. It is also forbidden in law for generationally defect reasons, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Gauche

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Those are some pretty good answers, but I'm still not convinced.

If we want to talk about taboo, why not talk about scat stories: stories involving feces and urine? That's pretty damned taboo, but as far as I can tell they're not even forbidden by Literotica guidelines, yet you don't see many readers clamoring for golden shower and curly browner stories. Okay, so you think scat play is disgusting, but that's just a value judgment, just like I happen to think incest stories are disgusting. You'll get over it. But if taboo is all that matters, why aren't the fans on their seats yelling for more scat epics?

I mean, we're not talking about a mild interest in incest here; we're talking about the most popular category on the site. Doesn't this strike you as bizarre?

Let's do a little thought experiment: In your view would a story about sex between a stepfather and stepdaughter have the same, less, or more incestuous punch as one about blood relations? What about a story about sex between a priest and a parishoner? A nun and a student?

Maybe I just come from an unattractive family, but really, the thought of sex with my sister or mother just makes me want to gag. And yet there are people who want to read about this stuff? I just don't get it.

---dr.M.

 

[The_Fool]

Agreeing with Perdita. It all goes back to Oedipus...

 

[Deadly Joker]

Maybe I just come from an unattractive family, but really, the thought of sex with my sister or mother just makes me want to gag. And yet there are people who want to read about this stuff? I just don't get it.

But, do people really want to get caught in an old house with a crazy serial killer, and end up with all their friends dead? Yet people love horror movies. Do people really want to get launched out of a machine and fly through the air so high and fast that they'll splat when they hit the ground? Well, they sure line up for roller coasters that bring them right to that edge.

I don't know what else I could 'explain'...if it don't rock your boat, it might just be a psychological difference.

 

[Guest]

Mab., you seem to have the attitude that you expect to be satisfied by 'us', by those who reply to your query (which as I said was not all that thoughtful). For myself, I do not want nor need to convince you of anything. I only wanted to say something worthwhile about incest stories on Lit.

What are we to say when you describe your family members as unappealing in light of the incest question? You’re not listening to what ‘we’ have said above. Incest is not about romance or erotica. I don’t want to have sex with my brothers but the idea doesn’t make me want to gag. My brothers are all very good looking men, and we are intellectually and emotionally intimate, but they are my brothers foremost. It is telling that you note the unattractiveness of your family members; as has been pointed out, Lit. incest stories all have buff and nubile participants. Incest is only erotic in fantasy such as in Lit. stories; the incest in them is a negligible quality.

Again, mentioning scatology and such—those aren’t real taboos, just repugnant to a majority. It’s easy to use the word taboo for scat, but it’s not on a par with incest. Regarding scatological sex as repulsive is a value judgment as you say, but regarding incest that way is not. Whether it comes from cultural, religious or sociological opinion, incest is beyond value judgment, “real” incest I mean.

So on Lit. it is fantasized beyond reality and is fun for those to whom it attracts. As a Catholic I do find the taboo-ness of sex with priests or nuns titillating. If I were a ‘good’ Catholic I might find it repulsive. It’s the forbidden that arouses. With incest though it is the ultimate taboo (as I said above). So, no, I do not find the popularity of incest bizarre. However, if Lit. allowed bestiality and it was the most popular area, I would find it bizarre, and scary.

I do hope you get some of this, but if you don’t, there’s not much more to say without getting extremely academic, and the subject (your question) really doesn’t interest me enough to do that. I also don't think the incest story authors on Lit. could give you much more of an answer either. I suppose you need to hear from hardcore incest readers, but that would obviously be difficult.

sincerely, Perdita

 

[MathGirl]

the thought of sex with my sister or mother just makes me want to gag. I just don't get it.

Dear Dr M,
I don't get it either. Also, I haven't heard a satisfactory reason for what seems to be an obsession with many readers. Why do you bring these things up? I was blissfully unaware of the popularity of incest stories, now I really wonder about it.
MG
Ps. We have finally found common ground, Dr M. I wouldn't want to have sex with your sister or mother either.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Those are some pretty good answers, but I'm still not convinced.

If we want to talk about taboo, why not talk about scat stories: stories involving feces and urine? That's pretty damned taboo, but as far as I can tell they're not even forbidden by Literotica guidelines, yet you don't see many readers clamoring for golden shower and curly browner stories. Okay, so you think scat play is disgusting, but that's just a value judgment, just like I happen to think incest stories are disgusting. You'll get over it. But if taboo is all that matters, why aren't the fans on their seats yelling for more scat epics?

---dr.M.

The taboo might be the thing that matters most, but that doesn't mean you can just throw any ol' taboo out there for consideration.

Suppose you know someone who's a jazz fan. Does that mean you can just pick a CD at random from the jazz section when you go Christmas shopping for him? You're risking bodily harm if you try to give me Kenny G, but by god I'll listen to as much Coltrane as you want to lay on me.

It's a matter of taste.

 

[A7inchPhildo]

Incest stories Yuck!

Who in a proper frame of mind wants mom?
Who in a proper frame of mind wants Dad?
Sister, brother, cousin whatever!

Dr.m look at it from the other view what makes the other stories less appealing?
Loving wives is a big hit What is incest got that most of the other categories do not have?
Big part of it is; Sluggards men and women who are too lazy to find thier own POA abroad so if you are to limp dick to leave the house any slut will do.
Who is going to be a bigger unbelief than to have a family member of the same unstable frame of mind to put out effortlessly to satisfy thier own selfish needs in turn willing to lower the self esteem so low the attitude apears to be if it feels good do it!

Taboo does not fit this category. If I get off by stinging my dick with a bumble bee it is just stupid. Well to think about "MoM" bent over is stupid too. If I am that demented then watch out "Rover" you're next! Because any willing/available hole will do.

What kind of question is this? I can shut my "fuck'n" computer off for the next three days with limp-dick thanks.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I look at it this way: I don't mind going outside and knowing that, say, 10% of the people I pass on the street are having private fantasies of BDSM. I don't mind knowing that they're having fantasies of a gay sex or cross-dressing. But it bothers me to think that these 10% (say) of people are getting off on fantasizing about sex with a family member or about other people having sex with their family members. It just doesn't seem to jibe with what I know about people.

So here's what I think: I think the emperor has no clothes.

I think incest is a literary gimmick authors throw in to spice up their otherwise dull stories. You take a common stroker, throw in a 'sis' and 'dad' and you're suddenly breaking taboos and writing risque stuff.

The reason I think this is because I have yet to see here any incest story that gives it more than the most superficial attention. Usually the sex is totally guilt-free, the characters have no second thoughts about what they're doing, and, once explained, the familial relationship is hardly ever explored.

As for the readers, yeah, I think they probably get a little buzz off the forbidden nature of the act. But in my own opinion, the real appeal is the still the idea of having someone available who can't refuse your sexual advances because they're related to you. To me, there's something sad in that.

As for Oedipus: let's remember that Oedipus only leanred after the fact that the woman he'd slept with was his mother, and that when he discovered what he'd done he ripped his eyes from their sockets in shame and grief. Also recall that Oedipus was intended to be a tragedy, not an erotic celebration.

Uncle Meat: Anything up to A Love Supreme is okay with me. After that you lose me.

Perdita: your snide remarks are noted, and if you find my question so terribly infra dig, you are free to refrain from answering. Your occasional silence would be much appreciated.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

Perdita: your snide remarks are noted, and if you find my question so terribly infra dig, you are free to refrain from answering. Your occasional silence would be much appreciated.

Can't oblige you, Mab. This is an open forum. It is rare, though, that I find your posts worth thinking about. BTW, you say nothing new in your last post, it's all been said above you.

My comments were not "snide" either. Snide means false, or practicing deception, slyly or injsinuating disparagement. All my comments were frank and upfront. I also believe my comments on incest worth thinking about, not to mention appreciated by others.

Perdita