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View Full Version : Why is retentive rather than expulsive the popular "anal" personality?

Corporate Hippie
08-24-2005, 02:39 PM
I wonder why Freud's "anal-retentive" came into mainstream use to describe an uptight, "neat-freak" personality rather than "anal-expulsive" to describe a sloppy, unorganized personality (Felix Ungar vs. Oscar Madison).

Perhaps there was a greater demand for a derogatory word for describing an uptight person than a sloppy person. Maybe "anal-expulsive" conjured images of the wrong kind of sloppiness.

It seems too late to try and bring "anal-expulsive" into vogue since "anal-retentive" has been shortened to just "anal" which is far too ambiguous if both terms are in circulation.

It's too bad, it seems like calling someone "anal-expulsive" would be a formidable insult, at least in grade school.
Sal Ammoniac
08-24-2005, 02:47 PM
I've wondered about this myself. And I wonder even more about people who go around saying, "I'm so anal."
Guinastasia
08-24-2005, 02:50 PM
Perhaps because "anal" conjures up the image of someone with a stick up their ass?

Or because "anal expulsive" creates a really disgusting image?

I dunno, those are my guesses.
samclem
08-24-2005, 08:08 PM
I wonder why Freud's "anal-retentive" came into mainstream use to describe an uptight, "neat-freak" personality rather than "anal-expulsive" to describe a sloppy, unorganized personality (Felix Ungar vs. Oscar Madison).

l. since Freud never used the term, let's find out where and when it appears.

The Mavens' Word of The Day (http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19970718) says it first appears in the 1950's. That's a good place to start searching.

I think the answer is actually on that website. I didn't check, as my daughter is telling me it's her turn on the computer. Chat, you know.
beergeek279
08-25-2005, 12:48 AM
Well, I'd think it would be because a neat freak would absolutely insist on a pristine and quiet/private place to drop the Browns off at the pool, and they'd hold it in until this perfect place would be found, need to crap or no need to crap.
xbuckeye
08-25-2005, 08:48 AM
Or maybe because Phil Hartman never had an SNL character named the Anal-Expulsive Chef.
Link Enclosed (http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Humor/SNL/Anal.htm)
NurseCarmen
08-25-2005, 09:08 AM
Wouldn't it be repulsive?