Covert incest was defined in the 1980s as an emotionally abusive relationship between a parental figure and child that does not involve incest or sexual intercourse, though it involves similar interpersonal dynamics as a relationship between sexual partners.
Covert incest in the 1980s was characterized by an emotionally abusive dynamic between a parental figure and child, lacking sexual intercourse but mirroring the interpersonal patterns found in romantic relationships.