Anal retentive
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The term anal-retentive (or anally retentive) derives from Freudian Psychology, although in common usage the original meaning has been altered.
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[edit] Common usage
This term is often used in reference to a person seen as overly worried about small details of form, style and etiquette; who is uptight or distressed over ordinarily minor problems, and unable to adopt a philosophical attitude toward mistakes. This metaphorical usage has become so commonplace that the original meaning of the phrase is often overlooked by those using it.
[edit] Freudian terminology
Sigmund Freud proposed that a child's development moves through several stages of psychosexual development. In early years there is a pre-occupation with the mouth known as the oral stage.
The child then typically moves on to the anal stage which is characterised by the child deriving pleasure from bowel movements. The child discovers the pleasure which comes from the exercise of power (in this instance the power to hold on or let go.) The retentive character takes pleasure in holding in the feces.
After the anal stage the child's development moves on to the phallic stage when the child's focus of attention will shift to the genital region known as the phallic stage of development.
Freud believed that conflicts with parents and delays during toilet training can cause a child's development to stop at the anal stage, the personality then becoming fixated on anal control, which later manifests itself as a compulsive concern with order and cleanliness. A developmental delay at this stage is therefore called anal-retention.
[edit] Popular culture
- Phil Hartman played a series of popular characters on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, including the "Anal-Retentive Chef," the "Anal-Retentive Sportsman" and the "Anal-Retentive Carpenter".
- In Annie Hall, Alvy (played by Woody Allen) says, "I've got to see a picture exactly from the start to the finish, 'cause I'm anal."
- Loki (Matt Damon) in the film Dogma stated that it should not be said that Bartleby's (Ben Affleck) "anal-retentive attention to detail never yielded positive results." To which Bartleby responded with, "You can't be anal-retentive if you don't have an anus." (The film's angels do not possess anuses or genitalia, though the feminine angels do have breasts.) Loki proceeded to congratulate him again on his anal-retentiveness for the prior observation.
