Psychological biblical criticism: Genesis 3 as a test case

The present study is an effort to examine and clarify one small corner of the broad field of psychological biblical criticism by closely examining psychological interpretations of a single text from three different theoretical perspectives: Freudian, Jungian, and Developmental psychologies. By analysis and comparison of studies of the same text from differing theoretical orientations, the study identifies methodological issues and strategies of exegesis and hermeneutics within psychological criticism. A set of criteria for adequate interpretation drawn from the hermeneutic theory of Paul Ricoeur provides a consistent standard of evaluation and context for comparison.; As a foundational myth of Western culture, Genesis 3 presents a particularly fruitful text for psychological interpretation. Its themes of sexuality, guilt, consciousness and alienation are issues of great interest to many psychologists. Genesis 3 has prompted a sizeable body of psychological criticism by psychologists and biblical scholars alike.; The study falls into two sections. The aim of Part I is to locate psychological criticism within the field of biblical studies generally, and propose a hermeneutical framework for describing and evaluating psychological approaches. In chapter 2 a brief survey of the interpretation of Genesis 3 provides an overall context for psychological criticism of the text. Chapter 3 introduces Ricoeur's basic concepts of the nature of texts and their interpretation, and sets forth five general criteria for adequate interpretation and four criteria specifically related to psychological interpretation.; Part II is devoted to analysis and evaluation of treatments of Genesis 3 from the three chosen perspectives--Freud and psychoanalysis in chapter 4, Jung and analytical psychology in chapter 5, and developmental perspectives in chapter 6. In each case, representative studies are evaluated in light of the criteria of adequacy developed in chapter 3.; In the concluding chapter, the study compares the three approaches with each other, identifying their contributions to interpretation of Genesis 3 and assessing their relative strengths and weaknesses. Two interpretations, one Jungian and one Developmental, are identified as most adequate in Ricoeur's terms. The strengths of these approaches suggest some key concerns for future psychological interpretations.