Suchergebnisse

Abstract of the talk given by Mrs. Intissar Tabsh Abou-Khadra, BUC alumna 1950, on Founders' Day, Nov. 10, 1977.

The nature of the settlement of Australia & New Zealand created, in the first half of this cent, a society marked by homogeneity. In the last quarter-cent the range of alternatives has been widened & both countries have taken on the attributes of all modern econ'ly developed nations. As a result, the images of the past have become decreasingly relevant to the contemporary way of life. However, the nat'l identity of both countries is strongly developed & the instit'al structure well established. Although many strains are likely to be apparent in the soc structure over the next decades, it is difficult to foresee any fundamental shift in the character of the 2 countries. HA.

The nature of the settlement of Australia and New Zealand created, in the first half of this century, a society marked by its homogeneity. In the last quarter-century the range of alternatives has been widened and both countries have taken on the attributes of all modern economically developed nations. As a result, the images of the past have become de creasingly relevant to the contemporary way of life. However, the national identity of both countries is strongly developed and the institutional structure well established. Although many strains are likely to be apparent in the social structure over the next decades, it is difficult to foresee any fundamental shift in the character of the two countries.

Mexican authors have limited their discussions of nat'l character to the mestizo pop of the central plateau. Their analyses are overburdened with a self-denigrative view of Mexican nat'l character, stressing inferiority feelings stamped by the Conquest. More recently, Mexican psychoanalysts have focused on the Conquest & subsequent revolutionary upheavals as generators of conflict between the sexes, which they see as the most crucial determinant of Mexican psychopathology. The Mexican M 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 M assumes an exaggerated role of masculinity (machismo). Although empirical study confirms the existence of this pattern, it also shows that these writers ignore the large % of Mexicans who are well adapted to their society & have character traits common to peasants throughout the world. Furthermore, SE factors which contribute to maladaptive character structures are underplayed. In Mexico, the clash between high ideals & the reality of a developing society intensifies feelings of inferiority, with the result that Mexicans undervalue their creative aspects & the progress they have made since the semifeudal society crumbled with the 1910 Revolution. HA.

Shortly after James Forrestal resigned as Secretary of Defense in late March 1949, the nation was shocked to learn that he was under treatment for a severe mental illness. Within a few months Forrestal committed suicide. This tragic occurrence, coming after Forrestal's highly successful career in government, directly challenged the long-standing mental-health mythology prevalent in Washington. The essence of the myth, as noted by Albert Deutsch at the time, was the belief that "no Very Important Person, under any circumstances, can possibly suffer from a psychosis." The denial of this possibility in official Washington was of a piece with widely shared beliefs that to suffer a mental illness was a disgrace that automatically and permanently rendered one unfit for public office.

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.

The descriptive & empirical nat'l character studies supply an essential base for the prescriptive legal order which strives for justice & equity in shaping the ideal nat'l character. Analytical or positive jurisprudence of John Austin, Wesley N. Hohfeld, & Hans Kelsen are seen to be related to the contributions of E. Adamson Hoebel, Pitirim A. Sorokin, Geoffrey Gorer, & others. Additionally, the historical or sociol'al jurisprudence of Friedrich Carl von Savigny, Eugen Ehrlich, Max Weber, & Max Rheinstein are seen to suggest concepts (such as Volksgeist), data, & theoretical frameworks useful in describing nat'l legal character. Relationships between legal mechanisms & nat'l character, if better understood, may have an important bearing on legal instit'al engineering. Hopefully, the jurisprudent will join with the behavioral sci'st in the search for isomorphisms of data, concepts, & theory in the interdisciplinary study of nat'l character. HA.

During the last half-cent writers of various backgrounds have concerned themselves with Swedish nat'l character. Their methods have ranged from the intuitive-impressionistic to the formalized psychiatric. Some of the early efforts are marred by strong nat'listic bias, a typical feature of nat'l character analysis in many countries. This is less noticeable, however, in recent contributions. A major theme that runs through the descriptions of Swedish character is emotional coldness & distance, together with stress on achievement & work rather than the warmth of interpersonal relationships. Though there is some consensus on this presumed central trait of Swedish character, it should not be regarded as established, but rather as an interesting lead to be followed up in further res. HA.

The major divisions of English society by SC & geographical regions are outlined. Historical evidence suggests that the typical character of the Mc's has been modified relatively little in the last 2 cent's, but that the typical character of the Ur Wc's has had 2 major modifications: in the middle of the 19th cent when the invention of the nationwide, unarmed, self-controlled police forces presented a new model for the ideal character; & again since 1945 when, for the first time in recent history, nearly all We children have been adequately nourished. The typical handling of 3 basic drives-aggression, sex, hunger-is examined & the implications for nat'l character explored; & some suggestions are made of the way the changed character of the new generation of the English Wc's may modify the nat'l character when this new generation becomes statistically & electorally dominant. HA.