The primal scene: a study of prevalence

Although primal scene experiences have been implicated as causal agents in innumerable psychopathologic states, no study of their actual prevalence exists. The authors conducted five separate studies, in which parents reported that 9%-41% of their children had seen parental intercourse. If the times children see parental intercourse without the parents knowing it and the times children hear parents making noises during intercourse were included, the prevalence would be much higher. In view of the frequent occurrence of primal scene experiences, factors other than the viewing itself must influence psychopathological outcomes when they occur.