Understanding the Phenomenon of Negative Myths

Abstract:

This article delves into the exploration of negative myths, examining their prevalence in both ancient and modern times. I focus on the psychoanalytic understanding of collective and group narratives, particularly within the context of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. Drawing from Levine's two-track model of psychoanalysis, this study investigates how negative myths function as containers for processing unrepresented unconscious content. Through case vignettes, the characteristics of negative myths are illuminated, revealing them as distorted and dysfunctional containers of psychic material. I argue that negative myths emerge in response to dread and fear, serving as reflections of societal anxieties.