When either one parent is not available for sexual or emotional needs of the other parent in the household, parental incest occur. The present parent may substitute the child for the missing wife or husband. The mother or father who is not around will not be able to check on his wife or husband’s activities. Although in some culture incest is done and is required in a family clan, it can still have a negative psychological effect to a child.

Clinical statistics in the U.S. shows that more than five million children are sexually abuse in spite the fact that incest is a taboo in nature.

Covert parental Incest is also called psychological or emotional incest. It is defined when a child is being seduced by a parent. It is considered a violation because it puts a demand on a child to fulfill a role of a parent or a spouse. It is usually called “special relationship" by the assaulting parent.

Psychologist often points out that there is a role reversal being done in an incest relationship, where the parent tries to give a pseudo-respect and pseudo-maturity like a peer partner to a child to meet his needs.

Covert incest is distinguished to be harmful to a child because it denies him or her the proper parenting and betrays his or her innocence. The parent demands the child to do parent obligations.