Piddington, Ralph (1906-1972)
Australian anthropologist and psychologist Ralph O’Reilly Piddington (1906-1972) was one of the leading figures in the academic affirmation of anthropology, particularly in New Zealand since 1949. He was particularly interested in the relationship between those two disciplines, dealing with subjects such as Aboriginal mythology and dreams, culture and neurosis, or laughter. In addition to Malinowski-style functionalism, he was a supporter of the “anthropology of action”, engaged in the fight for the rights of indigenous peoples, including the Maori, by means including the teaching of their language. He is the author of the two-volume reference book, An introduction to Social Anthropology (1950-1957).
Keywords: Social and cultural anthropology | Applied anthropology | Psychology | Functionalism | New Zealand/Aotearoa | Australia | Australian studies | Polynesian studies | Maori
Secondary sources
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“‘Piddington’s Indiscretion’: Ralph Piddington, the Australian National Research Council and Academic Freedom”
Geoffrey Gray, 1994
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“‘In View of the Obvious Animus’. The Discrediting of Ralph Piddington”
Geoffrey Gray, 1997
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“Piddington, Ralph O’Reilly”
Joan Metge, 2000
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“‘A Triune Anthropologist Appears’?: Gerhardt Laves, Ralph Piddington and Marjorie Piddington, La Grange Bay, 1930”
Geoffrey Gray, 2006
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“Establishing Anthropology and Maori Language (Studies), Auckland University College: The Appointment of Ralph Piddington, 1949”
Geoffrey Gray & Doug Munro, 2011
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“‘Maori and Pakeha – Two Peoples or One’? Ralph Piddington and ‘Symbiosis’ in Mid-Twentieth-Century New Zealand”
Dan Morrow, 2013
Primary sources
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“Report of Fieldwork in North-western Australia”
Marjorie Piddington & Ralph Piddington, 1932
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“Psychological Aspects of Culture Contact”
Ralph Piddington, 1933
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“The Religious System of an Australian Tribe”
Ralph Piddington, 1935
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“An Introduction to Social Anthropology” | Review |
E. Adamson Hoebel, 1951-1958
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“Malinowski’s Theory of Needs”
Ralph Piddington, 1957
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“Action anthropology”
Ralph Piddington, 1960
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