Editing Magical thinking (section)

=== Symbolic approaches ===
Another theory of magical thinking is the symbolic approach. Leading thinkers of this category, including [[Stanley Jeyaraja Tambiah|Stanley J. Tambiah]], believe that magic is meant to be expressive, rather than instrumental. As opposed to the direct, mimetic thinking of Frazer, Tambiah asserts that magic utilizes abstract analogies to express a desired state, along the lines of [[metonymy]] or [[metaphor]].<ref>{{cite book |last= Brown |first= Michael F. |title= Thinking About Magic |publisher= Greenwood Press |year= 1993 |pages= 5–7 }}</ref>

An important question raised by this interpretation is how mere symbols could exert material effects. One possible answer lies in [[John L. Austin]]'s concept of [[performativity]], in which the act of saying something makes it true, such as in an inaugural or marital rite.<ref>{{harvnb|Glucklich|1997|pp= 60–2}}</ref> Other theories propose that magic is effective because symbols are able to affect internal psycho-physical states. They claim that the act of expressing a certain anxiety or desire can be reparative in itself.<ref>{{harvnb|Glucklich|1997|pp= 49–53}}</ref>