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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to stimulate debate within the social work profession on incestual abuse. The literature on the origins and functions of the incest taboo is reviewed, and the historical process by which incest came to be the subject of legislation is described. Critiques of the psychoanalytic and family systems models of incest are advanced and preliminary guidelines for the psycho-social assessment of incestually abusing families are offered. It is argued that the successful development of social policies and programmes is dependent on the advancement of a better practice-based model of incestual abuse.