After identifying that social scientists and historians have long
believed (and vigorously defended) that the only universal trait found
in every known culture is the prohibition against incest, occurrence
of incest and child sexual abuse is traced first through Western
culture from antiquity to the present with special emphasis on Sigmund
Freud's "reversal." It then is traced through Eastern culture from
ancient to modern times. Contemporary trends of self-disclosure of
incest and child sexual abuse are examined, and current incidence data
are provided. The backlash phenomenon is then explored, and
conclusions are drawn.