[Identifying and assessing emotional incest]

IDENTIFYING AND ASSESSING EMOTIONAL INCEST. Among the various forms of sexual violence and child abuse incest, whose prevalence is likely underestimated, has well-documented and extensively studied pathological consequences. But what about the concept of emotional incest (l'incestuel), as defined by Paul-Claude Racamier? What dysfunctional family climate underpins this concept? How does it differ from incest itself? It refers to a closed-off enmeshed family dynamic marked by a failure to establish and maintain boundaries, leading to blurring of physical spaces, a confusion of psychological boundaries between individuals and generations, a lack of respect for intimacy and decency, and an impaired relational functioning with the external world. In such hermetic family systems how can clinicians or external professionals detect this pathogenic atmosphere? Set of evaluative criteria aimed at identifying and assessing this deleterious family environment through the analysis of these four core dimensions. While further empirical validation is needed, this preliminary framework serves to raise awareness among healthcare providers about the recognition and clinical exploration of these destructive family patterns.