Research Paper on:
Malinowski's Crime and Custom in Savage Society and Trobriand Islanders' Conflict

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
personal difficulties, political arguments, family discord, and many other conditions. In Bronislaw Malinowskis "Crime an Custom in Savage Society" the author looks at one tribe of people, studying them extensively.  He offers us an intriguing as well as an enlightening look at how one culture deals with many social realities, not the least of which is conflict. In the following  paper we examine a few of the ways in which these people, the Trobriand islanders, deal with conflicts according to the work presented by Malinowski. Conflict and the  Trobriand Islanders perhaps first and foremost we note that Malinowski discovers that the Trobriand people utilize religion for many, if not all, different types of conflict. It seems that their  religious beliefs are at the core of much of their society and as such it serves as a tool for dealing with conflict. As Malinowski indicates, religion is used in  "easing emotional stress, tension and anxiety" (NA). These are emotions or reactions that are often involved with any kind of conflict and as such they require religion to some extent.  One of the most powerful ways in which these people use religion for conflict is through black magic. This is considered to be an incredibly powerful tool whereby an  individual can take action and perhaps find resolution to a conflict. It, however, does not always work for the people. One story Malinowski presents, and perhaps a very powerful story  that serves to illustrate many different facets of conflict, is that which involves a suicide and incest. Through examining this particular story we will see how black magic is used  for conflicts, and how other pursuits are utilized in attempting to end conflicts. Malinowski states that "One day an outbreak of wailing and a great commotion told me that a