Sex-role identification in neurosis: Psychoanalytic-developmental and role theory predictions compared.

Tested 4 hypotheses derived from psychoanalytic and role theories of sex-role identification in 60 20-35 yr. old father-dominated and mother-dominated neurotic and normally functioning adult male Ss (n = 15) with no CNS disturbance and both parents living. Sex-role identification was measured by the Attitude-Interest Analysis Test, the Personal Preference Scale, and the Sexual Differentiation Scale, while parental dominance was assessed by means of the Dominance-Submission Scale. It was found that: (a) father-dominated and mother-dominated neurotics scored significantly lower than their normally functioning counterparts on the measures of sex-role identification, (b) no significant differences existed between father-dominated and mother-dominated neurotics, and (c) neurotics as a whole scored significantly lower than normally functioning Ss in sex-role identification. Findings are discussed in terms of a psychodynamic view of neurosis emphasizing unresolved Oedipal issues. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)