The oedipus complex: cross-cultural evidence

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

Hypothesis

"Duration of the long post partum sex taboo [has almost zero correlation with] intensity of fear of others" (171)

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Chi squareSupportedUNKNOWNUNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Overall Fear Of OthersDependentDrives And Emotions
Postpartum TabooIndependentGeneral Sex Restrictions, Infant Care

Related Hypotheses

Main AuthorHypothesis
Whiting, John W.M."If fear of others is based on overgeneralization of anxiety then the custom potential of fear of others should be correlated positively with average socialization anxiety in systems of behavior [notably oral, sexual, aggressive]" (267, 281)
Whiting, John W.M."Fear of others [is related to] . . . initial anxiety . . . in aggression systems of behavior" (282, 283)
Eichler, Margrit"In cultures in which women contribute above the median to subsistence, the postpartum sex taboo will be shorter than in societies in which women contribute below the median to the subsistence of society" (1.5).
Rosenblatt, Paul C.The degree of ghost fear is positively related to disposal of personal objects of the deceased and negatively related to a taboo on using the deceased's name. Otherwise ghost fear is unrelated to tie-breaking variables (160, 79)
Stewart, Robert A. C.Findings: A factor analysis of key dimensions to describe a given culture yielded 12 factors. Factor 11, "postpartum sex taboo", loaded highly and positively on postpartum sex taboo lasts more than one year; grandparents and granchild are friendly equals; male initiation ceremonies at puberty; fear of human beings; observation of food taboos. Factor 11 loaded negatively on cousin marriage preferred or prescribed (63)