The oedipus complex: cross-cultural evidence

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

Hypothesis

"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)

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Coefficient of contingencySupportedp<.001.55Two-tailed

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Composite Predictor Of Castration AnxietyAssociationDrives And Emotions
Extensiveness Of Menstrual TabooAssociationMenstruation

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Stephens, William N."Extensiveness of menstrual taboos observed in a primitive society is determined to a significant extent by the average intensity of castration anxiety [measured by a composite predictor based on child rearing practices]" (69, 89)
Young, Frank W."Stephens' main predictor [of menstrual taboo], the composite score of anxiety, did hold up [replicate]" (105)
Young, Frank W."There is no change . . . when the effect of social rigidity is partialled out of the association between composite anxiety and menstrual taboo elaboration or when castration anxiety is partialled out of the association of rigidity or male dominance with menstrual taboos" (106)
Stephens, William N."The extensiveness of menstrual taboos observed in a primitive society is determined to a significant extent by the average intensity of castration anxiety felt by men [measured by frequency of all kinds of physical injury in folktales]" (69, 89)
Stephens, William N."the extensiveness of menstrual taboos observed in a primitive society is determined to a significant extent by the average intensity of castration anxiety felt by men [as measured by frequency of genital injury and severing in folktales]" (69,89)