Myth in Primitive Psychology

by Bronisław Malinowski

This early work by Bronislaw Malinowski was originally published in 1926 and we are now republishing it with a brand new biography of the author. 'Myth in Primitive Psychology' deals with various forms of myth and magic in relation to human psychology.

Genres: Anthropology, Psychology, Nonfiction, Religion

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1926

About the author

Bronisław Kasper Malinowski (IPA: [ˌmaliˈnɔfski]; April 7, 1884 – May 16, 1942) was a Polish anthropologist widely considered to be one of the most important anthropologists of the twentieth century because of his pioneering work on ethnographic fieldwork, with which he also gave a major contribution to the study of Melanesia, and the study of reciprocity.

Reviews

[Mahtab Safdari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myth in Primitive Psychology is a provocative and influential work that reshapes how myths are understood in anthropology. Malinowski argues against the prevailing symbolic and psychoanalytic interpretations of his time, insisting instead that myths are not abstract allegories but direct, literal expressions of social reality. He describes them as “charters” that legitimize and explain the structures, rituals, and customs of the societies in which they are told.
For Malinowski, myths cannot be studied in isolation; they must be examined in their living context. This means looking at how they are told, under what circumstances, and within which social settings. His functionalist approach, rooted in fieldwork, emphasizes that myths serve practical purposes: they act as blueprints for social behavior, explaining the origins of creation, death, social divisions, and the rationale behind rituals.
He also highlights the psychological dimension of myth, showing how it provides reassurance in moments of uncertainty or danger. Myths are often invoked during risky undertakings, such as overseas expeditions, where they help manage anxiety and reinforce confidence through ritual and belief. Closely tied to this is Malinowski’s connection between myth and magic. Both, he argues, are tools for controlling situations that lie beyond the reach of empirical knowledge. Magic rituals performed alongside mythic narratives amplify their power, reinforcing the effectiveness of these practices.
By rejecting Freud’s symbolic interpretations and other speculative theories, Malinowski positions his work as a direct challenge to earlier views. His empirically grounded functionalism replaces abstract speculation with an understanding of myth as a living force in society. In doing so, he shifts the study of myth from armchair theorizing to anthropological observation, leaving a legacy that continues to shape the field.
***
“I want to emphasize the fact that anthropology should be not only the study of savage custom in the light of our mentality and our culture, but also the study of our own mentality in the distant perspective borrowed from Stone Age man. By dwelling mentally for some time among people of a much simpler culture than our own, we may be able to see ourselves from a distance, we may be able to gain a new sense of proportion with regard to our own institutions, beliefs, and customs. If anthropology could thus inspire us with some sense of proportion, and supply us with a finer sense of humour, it might justly claim to be a very great science.”
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“The function of myth, briefly, is to strengthen tradition and endow it with a greater value and prestige by tracing it back to a higher, better, more supernatural reality of initial events. Myth is, therefore, an indispensable ingredient of all culture. It is, as we
have seen, constantly regenerated; every historical change creates its mythology, which is, however, but indirectly related to historical fact. Myth is a constant by-product of living faith, which is in need of miracles; of sociological status, which demands precedent; of moral rule, which requires sanction.”

[Ririn Aziz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baca untuk tugasan JMK 316.

Berkali-kali ulang baca sampai terbayang-bayang kehidupan kaum di kepulauan Trobriand sewaktu Malinowski membuat kajian lapangannya.

Dan benar seperti yang dikata, penulisan Bronislaw Malinowski mampu membuatkan pembacanya berada bersamanya.

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief essay that proposes myth as a cultural force that regulates moral, conduct and other social aspects.

Malinowski also treats magic and identifies it's role not only as a psychological force, but as a pseudoscience with practical ends (much like Frazer to his own words).

I'd give this 5 stars if Malinowksi mentioned and developed the ideological aspects of both myth and magic (which I can conclude in a quick way: maintaining power of certain clans and chiefs over other tribes).