Psychology, anthropology, and the Romanian folk magic
Psychology, anthropology, and the Romanian folk magic
Author(s): Ioana RepciucSubject(s): Anthropology, Social Sciences, Psychology
Published by: Editura Sedcom Libris Iasi
Keywords: Sigmund Freud; Claude Lévi-Strauss; psychoanalysis; folk psychology; structural anthropology; abreaction; love magic; Romanian charms; introspective turn
Summary/Abstract: Descriptions of magic and sorcery in exotic societies provided by early anthropologists at the beginning of the 20th century generated the attention of psychologists and psychoanalysts. The most famous among them, Sigmund Freud, associated magical thinking and animistic beliefs with mental disorders. The father of psychoanalysis also inspired the anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss to compare verbal magic performed by shamans with abreaction techniques. The paper analyses various critical opinions reviewing both Freud and Lévi-Strauss’ theories, and their adequacy for studying Romanian folk verbal magic.
Journal: Buletin de Psihiatrie Integrativa
- Issue Year: 71/2016
- Issue No: 4
- Page Range: 80-89
- Page Count: 10
- Language: English