Summary of Anthropology and the Abnormal by Ruth Benedict

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The text opines that today modern social anthropology is becoming more about studying common elements and varieties of the cultural environment in relation to the consequences they have on human behavior. The main thesis coming from the text has to do with the fact that modern civilization is not a necessary pillar of achievement in human beings; instead, it is a single entry found among many possible adjustments. The argument presented in the text is that these adjustments, whether presented in major human drives such as sex or mannerisms of joy, anger, brief within a given society, always emerge far more variable than any one culture would imply. In situations of formal marriage arrangements or religion, they are widely known; hence, they can be fairly described while in others, giving a generalized account is not possible.

From the study of cultures, one of the most striking facts is how each of our abnormalities functions in other cultures. Worth noting, the kind of abnormality does not matter, whether it is those which indicate extreme instability or those with characters of persecution, delusions, or sadism, they are well-described cultures whereby the abnormals function at ease (Benedict, 2017). Notably, the abnormals function with a lot of ease and without any difficulty and danger towards society. In our cultures, even a very mild mystic is aberrant. However, most people have regarded extreme psychic manifestations as desirable and normal and characteristic of highly gifted or valued individuals. It is hard for people who have been brought up in a culture that makes no use of the experience to know the importance of its role and how many individuals are capable of it once it is granted an honorable place in society.

References

Benedict, R. (2017). An anthropologist at work. Routledge.