The biosocial theory of incest holds that the universal aspect of the taboo grows from innate sexual inhibitions triggered by intimacy in early childhood relationships everywhere. Much evidence suggests that this sexual inhibition does occur. However, the theory contains problematic assumptions that either interfere with the logic of the theory or are empirically questionable. We suggest that more attention to variation in early intimacy, sexual inhibitions, and taboos is needed for further development of the theory. We discuss sibling marriage in Egypt to suggest how research might be more fruitful if it were centered on variation in this way.
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