On Mexican National Character

Abstract

Mexican authors have limited their discussions of national character to the mestizo population of the central plateau. Their analyses are overburdened with a self-denigra tive view of Mexican national character, stressing inferiority feelings stamped by the Conquest. More recently, Mexican psychoanalysts have focused on the Conquest and subsequent revolutionary upheavals as generators of conflict between the sexes, which they see as the most crucial determinant of Mexi can psychopathology. The Mexican male tries to impose a patriarchal ideal, but he is constantly undermined by resentful women. Attempting to act with an authority he does not feel, the male assumes an exaggerated role of masculinity ( machismo), but the female, especially the mother, holds the real power in the family. Although empirical study confirms the existence of this pattern, it also shows that these writers ignore the large percentage of Mexicans who are well adapted to their society and have character traits common to peasants throughout the world. Furthermore, socioeconomic factors which contribute to maladaptive character structures are un derplayed. In Mexico, the clash between high ideals and the reality of a developing society intensifies feelings of inferiority, with the result that Mexicans undervalue their creative aspects and the progress they have made since the semifeudal society crumbled with the 1910 Revolution.