Although these women came from somewhat different kinds of backgrounds, their families had much in common. A pattern seen in the psychopathology of one family was seen in the other families. Among the common denominators were relatedness, expectations, impact, and outcome. This paper addresses and delineates family systems pertinent to incest by psychoanalytic methods, and not the methods of family therapy. All of the patients came from upper-middle class homes, where both parents were at least college-educated. In all of the cases cited, the incestuous relationship occurred over a brief time, lasting not longer than 6 months, at least several years after the daughters had reached puberty. There are several identifiable characteristics of incest; a very powerful and regressive craving which is readily acted upon, an absence of self-appreciation and esteem in ones' own right, and a desire to be identifiable, and a rage which emerges when one is not. 3 references.