Oral Personality Traits in Hindu, Muslim, and Protestant College Students

Abstract

Several psychoanalytic writers have attributed cultural differences in personality to pregenital fixation. The present study empirically assessed oral fixation in Hindu, Muslim, and Protestant college students. Questionnaire measures of oral optimism and oral pessimism character traits were administered to 206 English college students (47 Hindus, 96 Muslims, and 63 Protestants). Analysis of means showed that Protestants displayed significantly more oral optimism traits than the Hindus. No significant differences were found between Protestant and Muslim means or between Hindu and Muslim means. No mean differences were found for oral pessimism traits. Further research examining cultural differences of infantile experiences is proposed before conclusions are drawn regarding the etiology of the reported differences.