The oedipus complex: cross-cultural evidence

Free Press of Glencoe • New York • Published In • Pages: 273 •
By Stephens, William N.

Abstract

The author attempts to test the "Oedipus-complex" hypothesis--the psychoanalytic idea that under certain conditions (such as the long-post partum sex taboo) males are sexually attracted to their mothers and as a consequence certain fears and anxiety are generaated. The hypothesis is tested at the societal-level using ethnographic data.

Note

Chapter on kin avoidance is entered separately.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
OtherOther Researchers
Ethnographic ReportsResearchers Own

Hypotheses (21)

HypothesisSupported
"Duration of post partum sex taboo is correlated with intensity of sex anxiety" (81)Supported
"[There is a] strong correlation between the long post partum sex taboo and change of residence [for adolescent boys]" (78)Supported
"In a few primitive societies . . . women's breasts are not even considered sexual stimuli. These tend to be the long post partum ex taboo societies" (81)Supported
"There is some tendency for the long post partum sex taboo societies to be high on severity of sex training" (77)Supported
"Extensiveness of menstrual taboos is correlated with intensity of sex anxiety" (94)Supported
"Extensiveness of menstrual taboos . . . correlates positively with the duration of the post partum sex taboo" (97)Supported
"There is a negative correlation between diffusion of nurturance and extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (100)Supported
"A positive correlation was . . . predicted [between] severity of sex training . . . [and] extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (102)Supported
"[I predicted a poitive correlation between] the menstrual taboo . . . and severity of punishment for masturbation" (100)Supported
"My . . . prediction . . . was a positive correlation between severity of aggression training and extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (104)Not Supported
"My second prediction was a positive correlation between importance of physical punishment as a technique of discipline . . . and extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (104)Supported
"I predicted a positive correlation between general pressure for obedience and extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (108)Not Supported
"I . . . predicted a positive correlation between severity of punishment for disobedience and extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (108)Supported
"I predicted . . . [the severity of the father's own obedience demands] would be correlated positively with extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (108)Supported
"I predicted that [father expecting to be the main disciplinarian] would be correlated positively with extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (108)Supported
"If menstrual taboos reflect castration anxiety, we would expect a positive correlation between scores on this composite predictor of castration anxiety and extensiveness of menstrual taboos" (113)Supported
"Extensiveness of menstrual taboos is correlated with frequency of all types of physical injury [in folklore]"Partially supported
"Extensiveness of menstrual taboos is correlated with frequency of severing [incidents in folklore]" (117)Partially supported
"[There is a] positive correlation between duration of the post partum sex taboo and the variable totemism with food taboos" (164)Supported
"[There is a] significant positive correlation between duration of the long post partum taboo and importance of sorcery as an explanation for illness" (169)Supported
"Duration of the long post partum sex taboo [has almost zero correlation with] intensity of fear of others" (171)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas