Incest is defined as sexual activity between blood relatives.
Incest violates the child's trust in parents and other family members.
Because most children are taught from an early age that the family provides love, trust and security, incest is devastating. Sexual activity between a child and anyone outside of the family constitutes sexual abuse. As a result of the sexual abuse, children often become suspicious and believe that all strangers want to coerce them into sexual activities. Both sexual abuse and incest are traumatic. Incest and sexual abuse can be overt or covert.