swaddling hypothesis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A contentious theory, first proposed by Geoffrey Gorer, that purported the tight swaddling of Russian (and Eastern European) infants contributed to their supposed submissive and passively obedient nature and sudden emotional outbursts later in life, which made the rise of communist dictatorships in their countries possible.

Word forms

swaddling hypothesis

Etymology

From swaddling + hypothesis.

Synonyms

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