THE PLURAL TABOO

The human incest taboo is here conceptualized as a plural, gender-rela ted psychological reality whose major strands are (I) an instinctual f emale incest inhibition and (2) a cultural father incest prohibition. These strands are experienced in a plural phenomenology - as a mother taboo, father taboo, daughter taboo, son taboo, and brother-sister tab oo. The instinctual inhibition can be demonstrated in a wide range of plant and animal life, not just humans. The cultural prohibition would appear to have originated out of the instinctual inhibition after hum ans realized the existence of the previously unrecognized father-daugh ter relationship. The individual ontology of the taboos is explained i n terms of object relations theory; the inhibition and prohibition are seen as psychodynamically unique and their differences are compared. It is proposed that the fuller realization of the plural nature of the incest taboo will not only maximize human ability to prevent actual i ncest but also lead to greater effectiveness for both males and female s in the arena of sexual politics. Finally, the notion of the plural t aboo is a clinical standpoint from which to explore sexual transferenc e and countertransference in psychotherapy.