General overview of what we’re researching
Throughout history and time, storytelling has been a timeless activity between the generations and across cultures. These stories, passed down from one generation to the next, often pass along other information as well. We are interested in what information about values and relationships is being transmitted through these stories. Within the stories, we are interested in understanding the values being conveyed to children and what expectations they should have of not only themselves, but also the world around them. Additionally, the relationships within the stories can alter or confirm the relationships children see in their own lives. These findings can explain the reasoning behind the purpose of parents telling these stories to their children. Although stories may be similar, they are often told with their own twist in different societies. We are interested in how these elements of a story, the functional aspects, and the long …show more content…
There are several questions we are looking to answer, broken down into three sections; information from the stories, information from relationships within the stories, and motivations to pass these stories along to the next generation.
Information from the stories would consist of questions, such as what values are instilled in children through these stories. What expectations are created for the child or what does he or she aspire to and what expectations should the child have of the world? It is also important to question how children internalize these values. Are these unhealthy expectations that are being imposed on children? How relevant are these “values”? The significance a society places on some values over others could result in internal conflicts which can be further explored with psychoanalysis. These long-term effects of stories could explain some trends in psychopathology that afflict one society but not
Throughout history and time, storytelling has been a timeless activity between the generations and across cultures. These stories, passed down from one generation to the next, often pass along other information as well. We are interested in what information about values and relationships is being transmitted through these stories. Within the stories, we are interested in understanding the values being conveyed to children and what expectations they should have of not only themselves, but also the world around them. Additionally, the relationships within the stories can alter or confirm the relationships children see in their own lives. These findings can explain the reasoning behind the purpose of parents telling these stories to their children. Although stories may be similar, they are often told with their own twist in different societies. We are interested in how these elements of a story, the functional aspects, and the long …show more content…
There are several questions we are looking to answer, broken down into three sections; information from the stories, information from relationships within the stories, and motivations to pass these stories along to the next generation.
Information from the stories would consist of questions, such as what values are instilled in children through these stories. What expectations are created for the child or what does he or she aspire to and what expectations should the child have of the world? It is also important to question how children internalize these values. Are these unhealthy expectations that are being imposed on children? How relevant are these “values”? The significance a society places on some values over others could result in internal conflicts which can be further explored with psychoanalysis. These long-term effects of stories could explain some trends in psychopathology that afflict one society but not