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The biggest question with MacKenzie Phillips and her tell-all is whether or not she was a victim of delusional drugs, the Stockholm syndrome, or had a seriously twisted view of love and marriage that carried her through 10 years of consensual sex with her father. (See link at end regarding "consensual").
Because rape carries with it traumatic memories, it is important to know that there are support groups available. More than a dozen are identified through the link below and one group alone has 300 chapters.
Although MacKenzie was not held in confinement, she may well have been so emotionally addicted to her father that she could not control her own drive in his presence or her need for him. Oftentimes these type of addictions are mistaken for love.
As CNN reported, she said:. 'It was the Stockholm syndrome where you begin to love your captor. I felt love for my father, but the moment he tried to make it a romance, I was shot into the present time. '" Mackenzie Phillips: Dad wanted me to be his wife
A word about the Stockholm syndrome from the medical dictionary
"Many researchers believe that Stockholm syndrome helps to explain certain behaviors of survivors of World War II concentration camps; members of religious cults; battered wives; incest survivors; and physically or emotionally abused children as well as persons taken hostage by criminals or terrorists."
However, the report also notes that in hostage situations "92% of the hostages did not develop Stockholm syndrome." Stockholm syndrome - definition of Stockholm syndrome
The curious case of MacKenzie's blackouts
MacKenzie apparently remembers her blackout periods. Although oftentimes those in a drug and alcohol stupor (or those having a seizure) in which blackouts occur have no recollection at all. It is a loss of short-term memory. During a blackout, one may function normally. "People around you may not notice anything different about your behavior. You might do the things you normally do, such as eat dinner, wash dishes, or watch television, but later you have no memory of doing them." Blackouts caused by alcohol or drug use - MSN Health & Fitness
So now, if she had blackouts from the drugs and he had blackouts from the drugs, is it conceivable that neither she nor her father knew what they were doing?
So is it drugs, captivity, bad choices or all three?
Amber Watson-Tardiff, of the Star Ledger and NJ.com, says, "Mackenzie was a free-spirited adult, and my logic tells me heavy drug use (which Mackenzie and John both struggled with through the years) and was more to blame in this situation than the traditional captor/victim relationship.
"But what do you think? Can you be held captive to an incestuous relationship in your adulthood, the way a child may endure years of abuse without a means to escape? Or is Mackenzie Phillips trying to sell books and make an excuse for her poor choices in life? Mackenzie Phillips on 'Oprah: ' Can adults be held captive in an ...
The bond of marriage
One thing seems clear, she had a troubled life. What is really sad here is that during this alleged incestuous time, she was a married woman. Clearly she had not formed the type of bond with her husband that enabled her to seek his help or counsel. Her husband was guitarist Shane Fontayne aka Michael Barakan and they did have a son together. Shane Fontayne Michael Barakan: Barakan Fontayne Mackenzie
Spouses, lovers, and family members can often play a key role in helping someone they love get into treatment and perhaps even overcome drug addiction and abuse.
If you need help as a victim of sexual abuse or incest, visit this page Sexual Abuse / Incest / Rape
The information is clear and well documented including groups such as:
S.A.R.A. (Sexual Assault Recovery Anonymous) Society --
National. 20 groups. Founded 1983. Education and self-help for adults and teens who were sexually abused as children. Group development guidelines and assistance provided for starting groups. Literature for recovery and prevention available. Newsletter. Dues $10/yr.
SARA Society: P.O. Box 16, Surrey BC V3T 4W4, CANADA, E-mail: sarasociety@telus.net, Voice: 604-584-2626/ Fax: 604-584-2636
Survivors of Incest Anonymous: international and has 300 groups
MORE STORIES FROM Examiner.com
- MacKenzie Phillips on Oprah: drug daze, sex craze, and sister Chynna (lots of questions in this, my earlier piece -- and I will clarify that some of my opinions do come from years at Yale's Department of Psychiatry, director of policy and education. Every person's experience is unique. I encourage you to read the following piece by our Charlotte Love and Marriage Examiner.)
- MacKenzie Phillips is in denial: abuse takes many forms, Cheryl Williams, our Charlotte Love and Marriage Examiner. She tells a compelling story of what it is like to be a victim of incest. See her thoughts on "consensual sex". Thank you, Cheryl, for your courage.
- MacKenzie Phillips ended incestuous affair with father John Phillips after abortion (Jordan and Samantha, our Sex Scandal Examiners)
Copyright 2009 Rita Watson / All Rights Reserved
Comments
I'm not sure what to make of this story really. I do believe Mackenzie when she says she had a sexual relationship with her father. She had already admitted years ago to having done drugs with her father...I also recall her having told the story about Mick Jagger, too. At that time, no one came forward to deny her claims. I knew back then that John Phillips must've been one sick puppy...so these newest allegations don't surprise me...but they do sadden me a great deal. I guess what I am taking issue with here is I don't understand why Mackenzie chose to use this moment to come forward and tell her truth on talk shows...it's almost like she's using it for publicity for her new book. Seems to me that, yes, the truth should be told, but in a way that is truly beneficial to Mackenzie and other survivors of incest. I wish she would get some professional help...and then, maybe later, when she is ready, do a circuit around the country talking to incest survivors. To me, that makes more sense.
I was a drug addict for many years and even in the most drugged states you still have an awareness. Mackenzie knew what was happening and she finally (through the right help) was able to face it. The woman came clean very publicly and wants to help others. She got sober through Narconon. She deserves our support.
Why is she coming forward now you ask? Simple really, she needs money. And she's going to get a ton of it. Her publisher KNEW if she went forward with this awful truth, it'd be the PR storm it is, so Publisher gave her a huge advance if she agreed to go public with this.
Rita, your articles on this are so thoughtful - we've linked back to the last two you wrote.
An excellent article, Rita about a very emotional topic. Thanks for including some links to help people. If you would like to check out my article about this, including my own personal experience, "MacKenzie Phillips is in Denial: Abuse Takes Many Forms".
To those who speculate MacKenzie's reasons for going public are self-serving, stop and think about it. No one--I repeat--no one would admit something so horrific as she did just as a way to make money. For those who haven't been through sexual abuse, it's understandable that you can't understand why she needs to tell her story. For me, personally, I understand why. It's because keeping the secret is like still being under the abuser's control. She said on Oprah that she thought once he died, she would be free, but she found out she still wasn't. He still had a hold on her because (other than the people in her family that she told) the secret and the shame was still inside of her. In order to start healing, you have to rip open that wound and expose it. That's the only way you can be truly free.
"No one--I repeat--no one would admit something so horrific as she did just as a way to make money."
Ergo, anyone who accuses anybody of something so horrific MUST be right, regardless of evidence or own responsibility...
That is one seriously perverted opinion.
Look, there are multiple ways to go through absolute hell. Sexual abuse can be one of them, as can drug abuse. It makes sense if you have had to fight much harder than everyone around you just to survive (let alone thrive), to desire recognition. And you get a lot more recognition & sympathy in our victimhood culture by having been sexually abused than by drug use.
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