Adlerian life themes of women who experienced incest as children

Abstract

This qualitative study attempted to identify similar life themes among 10 women who reported experiencing incest as children, whose ages ranged from 26-66 years. Adlerian Lifestyle Questionnaires were administered during individual interviews and judged by three expert Adlerian judges for common life themes. Similarities of life themes were found among the subjects' family atmospheres, birth order positions, relationship of perpetrator to study subjects, subjects' goals and expectations, subjects' apperceptions regarding themselves, others, men, women, the world, and life. A composite Lifestyle Summary of study subjects revealed women who wanted to be loved (40%), expected to be hurt (60%), and mistreated (50%); perceived themselves as inferior and sensitive (40%); men as untrustworthy (60%); the world as a place where they were unprotected (50%); and life as dangerous (70%) and confusing (60%).