The relationship between use of alcohol and thematic content of folktales in primitive societies

The General Inquirer • Vol/Iss. n.a. • M.I.T. Press • Cambridge • Published In • Pages: 569-588 •
By Kalin, Rudolph, Davis, William N., McClelland, David C.

Abstract

The authors of the present study investigate the psychological correlates of heavy drinking by using thematic content of folktales as a reflection of the cognitive processes of people in a given society. Subsequently, thematic variables are compared to ethnographic ratings in order to better understand how and if thought and reality correlate. Results are examined in the context of previous findings by other researchers, namely D. Horton (1943).

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
OtherFolktale collections
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)

Hypotheses (5)

HypothesisSupported
The thematic tag "hunting" will be correlated with drinking, that is,"in societies with heavy drinking, themes of hunting are prominent in folktales" (582)Supported
The thematic tag "fear" will be correlated with drinking, that is,"the more direct references to fear appear in the folktales of a society, the less likely its members are to engage in heavy drinking" (581)Supported
The thematic tag "domestic-man" will be correlated with drinking, that is,"in heavy drinking societies males in folktales are frequently seen in domestic contexts . . . [they] have a basic feminine identity" (583)Supported
The folktale thematic tag of "change" will be correlated with drinkingMarginally Supported
"...the thematic content of folktales (thought system of a society) [will be correlated with] ethnographic ratings (description of the action or reality system)" (p.184)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: emily.pitek  noah.rossen