Abstract
Abstract The Mahlerian theory of childhood psychological development suggests that the same sex parenting of girls in the mother-child dyad predisposes women to experience specific difficulties in the separation-individuation (S-I) process (Mahler, Pine & Bergman, 1975). Pathological states in adulthood have been attributed to these S-I disturbances (Pine 1979; Kernberg 1980). However, this theory has never been empirically tested. In this study 53 subjects were assessed for adult manifestation of disturbance in the separation-individuation process using a self-report questionnaire (Separation-Individuation Inventory: Christenson & Wilson, 1985), In contrast to previous theoretical work, women showed significantly lower levels of disturbance in the separation-individuation process than did men. Assessment of sex-role identity (Bem Sex Role Inventory: Bem, 1981) showed no significant difference between overall sex-role identity of the male and female subjects. Individuals lacking any clear sex-role identit...
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