I think it's seldom a chemical imbalance, although that's a handy excuse to hide behind. Usually there is a background of abuse of some form for the person. If it has been left unchecked then they believe that it is acceptable for them to perpetuate that abuse. The most notable case in recent history is that of the Pitcairn Islanders, who had almost ritualistic paedophilia.

I think there's more to it than just father withstanding the same sort or similar abuse as a child. Sure, this can influence someone to take it out on someone else when they get older if they never healed from the pain; however, most people even if they never heal from pain, do not force sex on their own children. I've researched this a bit, and while you shouldn't go around labeling people - fathers who molest their own children tend to be either Narcissists or Sociopaths or Psychopaths (narcissistic traits are the hallmark of each disorder). Basically, the father sees the children as an extension of himself, property so to speak to do with as he will. He does not see his children as indepedent human beings with minds of their own - only something to be controlled and to gain pleasure from. If the children happen to express their own mind - woah unto them. This is just a brief answer compared how complex this situation really is. Basically, I believe that most/all father molesters have a personality disorder (of the three mentioned) at the core of their problem. They do not have any empathy. To me it is just disgusting! I know, it happened to my two sisters and almost happened to me (but didn't thank God!) Years later, though this still bothers me and I just woke up from horrible dream/nightmare where part of it my dad was molesting my grown-up sisters in one house we all lived in.

I don't know what makes a father molest his own child, but it's sick!

Well, it's kind of interesting in this scenario. A male/female previously abused by their parents, will be likely to pass it on. Males seeing their mother abused (Unless they kill the abuser) will abuse their spouses. A female will "accept" this as she saw her mother abused and she did nothing. A study (I think Kinsley) also showed that when asked the following to 10,000 males: "If you would never be caught, never be exposed and never be known to have had sex with a minor, would you?" 42% of the respondents said they would... Scary. No I don't think for one moment it's a "Chemical Imbalance" in the brain. That would be like saying "I was born to be___________ and so I "Can't help it" BULL....