Book

Oedipus in the Trobriands

University of Chicago Press • Chicago, Ill. • Published In 1982 • Pages:

By: Spiro, Melford E..

Abstract

In this work, Spiro reanalyses Malinowski's interpretation of the Oedipus complex in the Trobriands (see 11: Malinowski) and argues '…that if the existence of the Oedipus complex is culturally variable, the Trobriands, at least, do not constitute evidence for such a thesis' (p. x). Chapters 1 and 2 examine Malinowski's interpretation. Chapters 3-5 present the Spiro's arguments for believing that the Oedipus complex does exist in the Trobriands. The final chapter of this work (chapter 6), discusses implications of the Trobriand findings, particularly in reference to the long controversies on the universality of the Oedipus complex.

HRAF PubDate

1995

Region

Oceania

Sub Region

Melanesia

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

John Beierle

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

not specified

Coverage Place

Papua New Guinea

Notes

[by] Melford E. Spiro

General psychoanalytic discussions on the Oedipus complex, when not directly related to the Trobrianders, has been indexed for Theoretical Orientation (121). Specific data on the complex when directly related to the Trobriand people, has been indexed for Personality Development (155).

Includes index.|Bibliography: p. 181-193

LCCN

82007032

LCSH

Trobriand Islanders/Oedipus complex/Ethnopsychology