Secondary Elaboration Examples

Secondary elaboration refers to the ways in which people try to justify and explain the inconsistencies and contradictions within their beliefs, Robbins (2011, p.96). The reason as to why people tend to use secondary elaboration to explain something is essentially their way of trying to protect their own beliefs and defend them from those who are cynical and doubt them. In Richard Robbins book Cultural Anthro he asks the question when a certain belief system is accepted as if it’s true, how can a believer continue to protect these beliefs, although they may seem foolish to others? This question is further explored in E.E. Evans-Pritchard’s work with the Azande in his book WITCHCRAFT ORACLES, AND THE MAGIC AMONG THE AZANDE. Not only can secondary elaboration be found within this extremely diverse group it is also apparent within modern society today, proving that no matter how different two cultures may seem, they each have their own ways in reaffirming their beliefs in times of doubt.

An example of secondary elaboration within modern society today can be found with the case of an ill person in hospital. The loved one may be dying and their relative would pray to God to make them better and to keep them alive. If the person lives they may attribute this to a higher power or some form of divine intervention. However if the person dies the relative then does not immediately stop believing in God and give up religion. Instead they justify this situation by saying something like God has another plan for them or it’s for the best and they are in a better place. Secondary elaboration can also apply to things such as superstition and luck. Though not majority of people still believe in still believe in superstition and karma, some still ...

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... thing about this is that to the Azande there is no bad luck and to us there is no witchcraft, yet they are both used for the same purpose, to explain some kind of misfortune.

They are somewhat very similar, of course that is without the use of oracles. Although both cultures are different it is important each culture should only be judged based only on its internal logic, and not by the values or internal logic of another culture. Secondary elaboration works by helping us to explain what we cannot. To justify the reason for something happening when we cannot. To give us some sense of control over a situation where we would otherwise have none. Both the Azande and modern society itself , secondary elaboration serves as both a justification system as well as a way or method we use to interpret what we may deem to be unusual or confusing or out of the ordinary.