Defense mechanisms, somatic symptoms and lateral eye movements in females.

Research with male subjects has related lateral eye movements to preferred mode of defense and psychosomatic symptoms. However, previous research has systematically excluded female subjects which precluded the investigation of hypothesized but not yet confirmed patterns of sex differences. The present study examined the relationship between lateral eye movements, psychological defenses, and somatic symptoms in females. Lateral eye-movement patterns were assessed for 32 female undergraduate students, who were then administered the Defense Mechanism Inventory and Body Symptom Questionnaire. The data indicated no relationship between eye-movement patterns and either defensive style or somatic symptoms. Previous concerns about using female subjects in lateral eye-movement studies appear justified as this may decrease the probability of finding effects of lateralization.