An experiment was conducted in which dogs were forced to endure painful electric shocks without any means of escape. A second group of dogs were compelled to endure shocks and quickly escaped when it was possible. When the first group was shocked again, with escape now possible, they did not leave. They had been conditioned to endure pain. This experiment suggests why so many victims were sexually abused as adults by therapists, counselors, doctors or bosses.
Victims are accustomed to losing battles and feeling powerless.
Victims do not believe they can win. Assertion is a difficult concept for an incest victim. The victim s inability to trust affects the victim s feelings about members of the opposite sex. Often, boys abused by more than one male feel compelled to believe they MUST BE homosexual. Another result of the conflicting messages of incest is that many victims confuse sex with affection and love.