A Semantic Differential Investigation of Sexually Symbolic Concepts: Freud and Jung

Summary

Masculine and feminine ratings, via the Semantic Differential, of various nouns hypothesized by Freud or Jung to represent masculine or feminine symbolism, were made by 67 males and 78 female college students. 68 Ss (34 males and 34 females) received Freudian nouns; 77 Ss (33 males and 44 females) received Jungian nouns. While certain nouns were rated according to psychoanalytic theory, others were not. Some masculine concepts (“nail file,” “balloon,” “noodle,” “bird”) were rated feminine, and some fiminine concepts (”tunnel,” “trap door,” “box,” “case,” “garage,” “club,” “city,” “hill,” “cask,” “earth,” “whale,” “board,” “net”) were rated masculine. These results suggested caution in accepting psychoanalytic criteria for sexual symbolism in the analysis of clinical material.