ANAL PERSONALITY

with regard to psychoanalytic theory, a trend of character traits thought to result from the anal stage of psychosexual developing, wherein voiding the bowels is a main derivative of enjoyment. Particular happiness from withholding of the feces will cause a youth to develop into an anal-retentive personality as an adult, characterized by frugalness, stubbornness, and methodical ways,- in contrast, an obsession with discharging feces will generate a demanding and chaotic anal-expulsive character. Commonly referred to as anal character.