AI Article Synopsis
- The myth of Oedipus, while often associated with Freud's psychoanalytic interpretations, was originally intended by Sophocles as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris.
- Recent research supports the idea that warnings about hubris are ingrained in human history and essential for societal survival, as they protect vital prosocial behaviors.
- The paper ultimately urges clinicians to distinguish between pride and hubris, which lead to different motivations and approaches in moral decision-making.
Article Abstract
Although the myth of Oedipus has been linked with psychiatry through the words of Sigmund Freud, it has not been remembered in the context of its playwright's intention. Sophocles gave Oedipus to his fellow Athenians as a warning (Knox, 1984). That warning was about hubris. This paper proposes that warnings about hubris have appeared on our phylogenetic radar. It concludes that these archetypal warnings have been essential for our species, as strivings for power and status endanger prosocial behaviors critical for survival. This idea has support from recent studies about cooperative behavior, fairness, and reciprocity that suggest we are predisposed to protect prosocial behaviors and punish that which threatens them. The paper ultimately encourages clinicians to differentiate between pride and hubris, related emotional states that drive very different motivational and goal-directed responses in moral decision-making.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/psyc.2010.73.4.341 | DOI Listing |
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