Philippine Mythology: Coping Mechanism

Philippine Mythology: A Coping Mechanism

We live in a world full of mysteries that even science itself cannot fathom and explain. These mysteries and supernatural things led to behavioral and cognitive change to people experiencing it. These changes may or may not alter their perception towards reality depending on the impact it gives to the person who experiences it.

Mythology has several functions among individual who believe in it. Applying psychology in analysis of behaviors shown by people believing in it revealed that they do this as a coping mechanism on unexplained things by science. Thus, people tend to look for something systematic that could explain these unexplained things just for them to feel satisfied of the happenings around like incurable illnesses, unexpected deaths, curses, and other supernatural things effect. Here people tend to hold on mythological beliefs which are a system of thoughts used to believe by everybody.

Mythology functions in several ways to human beings. It serves as a venue to enrich creativity especially among children. A study conducted shows that young people who are being presented with the beliefs on myths performs more creative than those older people which the concept of myths are no longer in their mind. In this example, mythology functions as a catalyst in improving creativity.

Moreover, it as well function the field of science and health. There are instances that certain diseases occur that the doctor themselves could not explain the cause. If these things happen, people tend to consult from an albularyo or a quack doctor to explain the supernatural cause of the disease. This act shows that mythology had been a coping mechanism of individual having this kind of encounters.

One more thing that mythology brought is its influence in social studies through its impact in societal relationship. Cultures and different societies perceive a similarity among them when it comes to...