The definition used here is any sexual abuse of a child by a relative or other person in a position of trust and authority over the child. The definition stresses that, while the abuse occurs in a familial context, the abuser is not necessarily a blood relative of the child victim. The article uses many case stories to illustrate how perpetrators begin to commit incest, how they intimidate their victims into silence, and some of the psychological effects the victimization has on children, many of which last into adulthood. Experience of incest affects the victim's relationships with other people, their mental and physical health, and their subsequent sexual behavior. The author discusses studies of incestuous family relationships, as well as counseling and therapeutic strategies to use with incest victims.