Chapter 08 · Key paper

The study looked at when and why Koreans lament their palja (팔자, fate written in one's birth date) and found that people with stronger external control beliefs blame hard lives on palja more.

Palzha (八字) as Lay People's Mode of Self-View on Negative Life Events and History in Korean Culture

한국인의 자기신세 조망양식으로서 팔자(八字)의 이야기 분석과 통제신념과의 관계 분석

김지영, 김기범 (2005). 한국인의 자기신세 조망양식으로서 팔자(八字)의 이야기 분석과 통제신념과의 관계 분석. 한국심리학회지: 문화 및 사회문제, 11(1), 85-108.

QUESTION

In what situations, for what reasons, and with what psychological functions do ordinary people lament their palja, and how is palja attribution related to a person's internal or external control beliefs?

FINDINGS

People lament their palja to soothe themselves when they have lived a harsh life full of han (한, deep sorrow and resentment), or when luck is against them.

팔자타령은 기구하거나 한 많은 삶을 살았을 때 그리고 운이 없을 때 마음을 달래기 위해 하는 것으로 나타났다Palja lament appeared to be done to soothe one's heart when one has lived a rugged life full of han, and when one has no luck.p1

People who believe their lives are shaped by outside forces (high external control belief) attributed rugged, fate-like lives and events to palja more often.

외적 통제신념이 높은 사 람들일이 기구한 운명적 삶이나 사건에 대해 팔자귀인을 많이 하고 있는People with high external control beliefs make many palja attributions for rugged, fateful lives or events.p1

University students said they mention palja in situations such as “when I feel nothing can be done,” “when something unexpected happens,” and “an unfortunate environment or disability.”

'어쩔 수 없 다고 느낄 때', '뜻밖의 일이 벌어질 때', '불우한 환경 및 장애' 등…“when one feels nothing can be done,” “when something unexpected happens,” “an unfortunate environment and disability,” and so on.p11

대학생들을 대상으로 자료를 수집한 분석한결과, 먼저 팔자라는 말을 하게 되는 상황에 대한 내용분석Analysis of data collected from university students: first, content analysis of the situations in which they say the word palja…p11

The authors interpret palja lament as a way of viewing one's own lot in which self-pitying lament (emotion) and causal reasoning (thought) are bound together in search of comfort.

심리적 위안을 얻기 위해 부정적 사건이나 삶에 대한 신세한탄이라는 정서적 반응과 인과 추론이 복합적으로 연결된 신세조망양식…a mode of viewing one's lot in which an emotional reaction — lamenting one's lot over negative events or life to gain psychological comfort — and causal inference are complexly linked.p1

IN DAILY LIFE

When a woman remarries or suddenly rises in status, people say she has “fixed her palja.”

여자가 재가를 하거나 갑작스럽게 신분이 상승한 경우를 두고 '팔자를 고친다'5)는 말을 하기도 하며When a woman remarries or suddenly rises in social status, people say she “fixes her palja.”p2

Teasing a friend who loves to roam around for having “a palja with yeongmasal (역마살, the wandering star).”

돌아다니는 걸 좋아하는 친구에게 역마살 낀 팔자라고 구박할 때When teasing a friend who likes to roam around for having a palja with yeongmasal.p10

Caveats — Based on a scanned original converted to text; numbers appear only where a quoted passage shows them.

In depth

This paper, more closely — every sentence carries an original quote and page number.

Background

Early attribution theory (theory of how people explain the causes of events) assumed people reason like logical scientists, but it became increasingly clear that ordinary people do not think that way.

일반인들이 과학자와 같이 논리적으 로 사고하지 않는다는 사실이 점차로 확인되었 다It was gradually confirmed that ordinary people do not think logically like scientists.p3

초기의 귀인이론은 특수한 사건에 대한설명이나 하나의 결과에 대해 하나의 원인을 찾는 단순한 설명에서 출발했으며, 지각자를 규범적 모형에 따라 사고하는 과학자로 상정했다Early attribution theory began from simple explanations seeking one cause for one outcome, and assumed the perceiver to be a scientist reasoning by a normative model.p3

Koreans blame their palja when looking back on an unexpected misfortune, or on how such a misfortune sent their whole life down an unhappy path.

인들은 예기치 못한 불운한 사건의 결과나 그러 한 결과로 인해 자신의 일생이 불행한 일로를 걸었다고 회고되는 경우 '팔자 맛을 하게 된다Koreans blame their palja when they look back on the outcome of an unexpected unfortunate event, or on how that outcome led their life down an unhappy path.p3

Method

Two studies, combining qualitative and quantitative research. The first gathered, through interviews and open-ended questionnaires, when and why people say the word palja; the second measured the degree of palja attribution using a control-belief scale and real events chosen from newspapers.

First study: 20 adults mainly in their late 50s and 60s (mean age 61; 9 men, 11 women) and 98 university students (40 men, 58 women). Second study: 148 students taking introductory psychology at a university in Gyeonggi Province (70 men, 78 women).
In the second study, participants answered an internal–external control scale, then read 26 real events chosen from major daily newspapers (search term “rugged fate”) and rated how “palja-like” each was on a 7-point scale.

20명의 성인들을 대상으로 언제, 왜 팔자라는 말을 하거나 타령을 하는지에 대한 면 접을 실시하였고, 대학생 98명을…interviews were conducted with 20 adults about when and why they say the word palja or lament it, and 98 university students…p8

질적인 연구와 양적인 연구를 병행하여 실시하였다…qualitative and quantitative research were conducted in parallel.p1

면접은 주로 50대 후반과 60대의 성인 남, 녀20명을 대상으로 실시하였다 평균 연령은 61세였고Interviews were conducted mainly with 20 men and women in their late 50s and 60s; the mean age was 61p8

남성 피면접자는 9명(평균연령 61세)이었으며, 여성 피면접자는 11명(평균연령 61세)이었다There were 9 male interviewees (mean age 61) and 11 female interviewees (mean age 61).p8

대학생들 98명(남자 40명, 여자 58명)을 대상으로 팔자타령 상황과 이유 등에 대해 조사하였다98 university students (40 men, 58 women) were surveyed on the situations and reasons for palja lament.p8

경기도 소재 대학교에서 심리학 개론을 수강하는 학생 148명(남학생 70명, 여학생 78명)을 대상으로 조사를 실시하였다The survey was conducted with 148 students (70 men, 78 women) taking introductory psychology at a university in Gyeonggi Province.p12

주요 종합일간지에서 수집(검색어 기구한 운명)한 사례 중에서 26가지를선택하여 팔자 귀인의 정도를 알아보고자 했다26 cases were selected from those collected from major daily newspapers (search term: rugged fate) to examine the degree of palja attribution.p12

내외통제성 척도에 반응한 후,26가지의 스크립트를 읽고 얼마나 팔자스러운지에 대해 7점 척도 상에서 평가하도록 하였다…after responding to the internal–external control scale, read the 26 scripts and rated how palja-like they were on a 7-point scale.p13

Detailed findings

In adult interviews, palja came up mainly in hard situations — when life is tough, when children cause heartache, when things go badly.

힘든 상황들은 살기 가 힘들거나 자식들이 속을 썩일 때, 일이 잘 안 될 때이다The hard situations were when life is tough, when children cause heartache, and when things don't go well.p9

남, 녀 성인 20명을 대상으로 한 팔지(언제,왜, 기분)에 대한 면접 결과The results of interviews with 20 adult men and women about palja (when, why, feelings)p9

Asked how they feel after lamenting their palja, most said it comforts them and lifts their mood.

마음에 위안을 삼고 기분이 풀어진다는 식의 답변이었…answers to the effect that it comforts the heart and lightens one's mood.p10

대부분의 응답자들은 그렇게 말하는 것이 긍정적인 기능을 하고 있음을 지적하였다Most respondents pointed out that saying so serves a positive function.p10

Many also said lamenting one's palja is a habit, like a verbal tic.

팔자타령은 입버릇처럼 하게 되 는 습관이라고 지적한 사람들이 많았다Many pointed out that such palja lament is a habit one falls into like a verbal tic.p10

Students' most common reasons for palja lament were psychological stability, shifting responsibility, believing it is fate, and habit.

심리적 안정감을 얻기 위해서, 책임을 전가하기 위해서, 운명이라고 생각해서, 습관적 으로 한다는 응답이 많았고Many answered that they do it to gain psychological stability, to shift responsibility, because they think it is fate, and out of habit.p12

왜 팔자 때문이라고 말하는가(대학생 집단)Why do people say it is because of palja? (university student group)p11

Students also said that hearing the word palja brings negative thoughts such as “pathetic” or “trite.”

'한심하다', '진부하다' 등의 부정적인 생각이 든다고 응답한…answered that negative thoughts such as “pathetic” and “trite” come to mind.p12

팔자라는 말을 들었을 때의 대학생들의 생각은 '어쩔 수 없는 상황'을 가정했는데University students' thoughts on hearing the word palja assumed an 'unavoidable situation'…p12

The authors interpret students' pointing out the “shifting responsibility” side as reflecting a belief, stronger among the young, that one should shape and control one's own life.

은 사람일수록 자신의 운명이나 주어진 삶을 개 척하고 통제해야 된다는 생각이 어느 정도 있기 때문인 것으로 해석…interpreted as being because the younger people are, the more they think, to some degree, that they must shape and control their fate or given life.p12

대학생 집단의 경우 팔자타령이책임전가라는 부정적 측면이 있음을 공통적으로지적하고 있음을 알 수 있다. 이러한 측면은 젊은 사람일수록The student group commonly pointed out that palja lament has the negative side of shifting responsibility. This aspect… the younger people are…p12

The 26 real events grouped into four dimensions: “rugged life” (the typical palja situation), “resolving han” (a rugged life with a happy ending), “luck” (good and bad fortune), and everyday events.

첫 번째 차원은 기구한 인생으로 전형적인 팔자 상황이었고, 두 번째 차원은 기구한 삶을 살았지 만 행복한 결말을 지은 상황이었으며The first dimension was a rugged life, a typical palja situation; the second was a situation of living a rugged life but reaching a happy ending…p15

실제 사례는 연구1의 결과를 토대로 26가지가 선별되었고, 요인분석결과 네 개의 차원이 있는 것으로 나타났다26 real cases were selected based on Study 1's results, and factor analysis showed four dimensions.p15

세 번째차원은 행운과 불운이 각 각 내재된 차원으로운과 관련된 차원이었다. 네 번째 차원은 주변에서 일어나는 일상의 사건들에 관한 것이었다The third dimension, containing good and bad fortune, related to luck. The fourth dimension concerned everyday events happening around one.p15

Blaming palja was highest for “rugged fate” and “luck,” and lowest for hardships that ended well.

인 기구한 운명과 긍정과 부정이 혼재되어 있는 운 범주가 높게 나타났고, 부정적 사건이 발생한 후 긍정적인 결말의 경우가 가장 낮게 나타났다…rugged fate and the luck category, which mixes positive and negative, were high, and cases with a positive ending after a negative event were lowest.p15

Authors’ interpretation

The authors argue that blaming oneself for misfortune brings self-contempt and regret, blaming others brings unbearable anger and resentment, and viewing one's lot through palja offers an escape from both.

자기 모멸감이나 후회, 반대로 남에게 귀 인했을 때 느끼게 될 감당할 수 없는 분노, 원한 을 피할 수 있는 탈출구로 존재하는 것이다…it exists as an escape from self-contempt or regret, or, conversely, from the unbearable anger and resentment one would feel when attributing to others.p8

팔자를 통한 신세조망은기대나 희망을 현실을 따라 조정하고 현실사태를 자기 중심적으로 재해석하게 하는데 이는 자신의 불행을 자신에 대해 원망으로 돌렸을 때닥쳐올Viewing one's lot through palja adjusts expectations and hopes to reality and reinterprets the situation self-centredly; this… [from what] would come when one turns one's misfortune into resentment toward oneselfp8

The authors call Koreans, who try to fix their palja and even try to avoid misfortune through fortune-tellers, “pioneering fatalists.”

는 '개척적 운명론자'들이라고 할 수 있다…can be called “pioneering fatalists.”p14

길, 흉, 화, 복을 주관하는 주재자이지만, 한국인은 '팔자를 고치려…the ruler of fortune and misfortune, yet Koreans [try] to fix their paljap14

하고, 점쟁이를 통해 불운을 피해보려고 노력하…and try to avoid misfortune through fortune-tellersp14

They sum up palja lament as a way of attributing causes to fate or luck beyond one's control, arising when people look at their lot, feel it is more rugged than others', and feel han about it.

자신의 신세를 조망할 때 남들 과 다른 기구함을 느끼고 그것이 한스러울 때 나타나는…arising when, in viewing one's lot, one feels a ruggedness different from others and finds it full of han…p15

그것이 한스러울 때나타나는 자신의 통제 밖에 있는 운명이나 운…arising when it feels full of han: fate or luck beyond one's own controlp15

Limits the authors note

Palja attribution was treated as the same dimension as “unavoidable situations,” luck, and fate, so their differences and similarities need deeper testing.

운과 운명 등의 차원과 동일 차원으 로 보았는데, 그 차이나 유사점에 대한 좀더 심 층적인 접근과 검증이 요구된다…viewed as the same dimension as luck and fate; a deeper approach to and testing of their differences and similarities is needed.p16

The second study, which examined differences by control belief, only had people judge events from an observer's perspective; it did not test how people attribute their own experiences.

관찰자 관점에서 사건이 나 상황에 대한 해석을 보았는데 자신의 경험을 어떻게 귀인하는 지에 대한 검증은 실시하지 않 았다…looked at interpretations of events or situations from an observer's perspective, but did not test how people attribute their own experiences.p15

본 연구에서는 개인의 통제신념에 따른 사건이나 상황의 원인 추론에서의 차이를 검증하였는데This study tested differences in causal inference about events or situations according to individual control beliefs…p15

Key terms

Palja (팔자, 八字) Literally “eight characters”: writing one's birth year, month, day, and hour (saju, 사주) in the traditional sexagenary signs yields eight characters.

자신이 태어난 해, 달, 날, 시 의 사*四杓를 간지(干支)로 말할 때 글자가 여 덟 개로 나오는 데서 유래한 것이디It derives from the fact that when the four pillars of one's birth year, month, day, and hour are expressed in the sexagenary cycle, there are eight characters.p2

Palja attribution Not explaining one isolated event, but blaming palja while looking at one's whole life and lot from a step back, as if it were someone else's, within a long-term context.

탈맥락화된 사건에 대한 귀인이 아니 라 역동성과 장기적 맥락이 존재하고 자신의 전 반적 생, 신세에 대한 제 3 자적 조망이 공존하It is not attribution for a decontextualized event; dynamism and a long-term context exist, together with a third-person view of one's whole life and lot.p6

Unmyeong (운명, 運命, fate) Un (運, luck) moves and changes; myeong (命, destiny) is fixed — so fate is both given by heaven and something one creates oneself.

운(過은 동적이며 가변적이고, 명(命)은 정적이며 고정불변한 것으로, 운명이란 하늘에서 주어진 것이고 동시에 스스로 창즈해Un is dynamic and changeable, and myeong is static and fixed; fate is given by heaven and at the same time something one creates oneself.p2