ABSTRACT

Myths are often seen as irrational, superstitious conjectures about the world. But others find it more useful to take an anthropological perspective and describe myths as internalized constructs expressed in implicit or explicit stories, formal or informal statements, or social infrastructures that address existential human concerns and issues and that impact behavior (Feinstein & Krippner, 1988, 1997). Myths can be cultural, institutional, familial, ethnic, or personal in nature. Hence, a personal myth can be conceptualized as a psychological unit composed of imagery and narrative that interprets sensations, constructs explanations, and directs actions.