GUIDING SPIRITS: AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF THE BOND BETWEEN RUTH BENEDICT AND MARGARET MEAD.

摘要

The Problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of the bond between Ruth Benedict and Margaret Mead.;Results. (1) Within the structure of the bond Ruth Benedict emerged as the more Dionysian and Margaret Mead as the more Appolonian, (2) the nature of the Benedict/Mead bond was influenced by a strong reciprocating process, and (3) the Benedict/Mead bond functioned because it had stabilized within a dynamic structure which furthered growth.;Method. A psychohistorical study of each woman was undertaken to isolate the individual major life events. Points of interaction were noted. A role identity model was employed to organize the various interactions into three categories: intrinsic gratification, extrinsic gratification and role support. These categories were subsequently used to characterize the bond.