Parental idealization and the absence of Rorschach oral imagery

Although the attitudes, behaviors, and pathologies associated with the oral personality have been examined extensively and are well-described (Masling, 1986), the absence of Rorschach oral imagery has not been studied. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that undergraduate subjects who do not provide any oral responses idealize at least one of their parents. This hypothesis was tested by asking subjects to describe their parents (Blatt, Wein, Chevron, & Quilan, 1979). Indeed, subjects who do not report perceiving any Rorschach oral imagery are more likely than subjects who do report oral imagery to engage in parental idealization. The results are discussed in the context of previous research on dependency and attachment.