Folk Tales of Nakornthai District, Phitsanulok Province : An Analysis of Conflicts and Problem Solving

Abstract

The objective of this research was to analyze the conflicts and problem solving appearing in folk tales of Nakhonthai District, Phitsanulok Province, by analyzing behaviors of the characters appearing in 65 fables. The researcher used the conceptual framework of conflicts and of problem solving. The results showed that the most common conflict was the conflict with others, accounting for 70.66 percent, representing 21.90 percent of the conflict within group and 48.76 percent of one outside of the group. The next most common conflict was the conflict within oneself, representing 15.29 percent. The conflict with nature or environment represented 7.85 percent, and the least common conflict was one with the supernatural, representing 6.20 percent. A total of 14 methods were found  for problem solving. The 3 most common problem-solving methods were dependence on oneself or on others, representing 20.19 percent, punishing oneself or others, representing 12.72 percent, and negotiation, representing 11.18 percent, respectively. The problem-solving method which did not appear in this study was law enforcement.