Oral Stage

The need to examine alternative explanations for findings in psychoanalytic theory is often suggested but rarely practised. The aim of the present study was to examine Lewis' (1993) prediction that oral pessimism is important to the aetiology of depression withln the context of social psychological, cognitive and personality explanations of depression. One hundred and sixty Northern Irish university students completed measures of depressive symptoms, oral pessimism and oral optimism, optimism, neuroticism, coping style, attribution style and self-esteem. Results show that oral pessimism, neuroticism and the use of stable attributions are dominant in accounting for variance in a measure of depression and support Lewis' (1993) finding that oral pessimism is important in depressive symptoms.

The need to examine alternative explanations for findings in psychoanalytic theory is often suggested but rarely practised. The aim of the present study was to examine Lewis' (1993) prediction that oral pessimism is important to the aetiology of depression withln the context of social psychological, cognitive and personality explanations of depression. One hundred and sixty Northern Irish university students completed measures of depressive symptoms, oral pessimism and oral optimism, optimism, neuroticism, coping style, attribution style and self-esteem. Results show that oral pessimism, neuroticism and the use of stable attributions are dominant in accounting for variance in a measure of depression and support Lewis' (1993) finding that oral pessimism is important in depressive symptoms.

Although several investigations have examined the relationship of Rorschach Oral Dependency (ROD; Masling, Rabie, & Blondheim, 1967) scores to Axis I diagnosis, there has been very little research assessing variations in ROD scores across Axis II personality disorders (PDs). In this study, ROD scores were compared in 5 PD groups (borderline PD inpatients, borderline PD outpatients, avoidant-dependent PD outpatients, narcissistic PD outpatients, and antisocial PD outpatients), and 2 non-PD comparison groups (psychotic disorder inpatients and college students). Borderline PD inpatients had significantly higher ROD scores than borderline PD outpatients, antisocial PD outpatients, and college students; no other between-group differences were found. We discuss implications of these results for research on dependency and Axis II psychopathology and offer suggestions for future studies.

Women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer (N ϭ 16) and women from the community (N ϭ 17) each described 3 early memories. We assessed the developmental maturity level of the memories with Mayman's Libidinal Level of Relationships scale, which assesses the maturity of memories form oral to latency levels. The early memories of the cancer patients were at a significantly lower libidinal level and more often involved oral relationship themes than the memories of the community women. The results suggest that a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness can invoke comforting memories of being cared for and fed, associated with a greater sense of dependence on others.

Women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer (N ϭ 16) and women from the community (N ϭ 17) each described 3 early memories. We assessed the developmental maturity level of the memories with Mayman's Libidinal Level of Relationships scale, which assesses the maturity of memories form oral to latency levels. The early memories of the cancer patients were at a significantly lower libidinal level and more often involved oral relationship themes than the memories of the community women. The results suggest that a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness can invoke comforting memories of being cared for and fed, associated with a greater sense of dependence on others.