Psychoanalysis is a theory that asserts that the unconscious is effective in the origin of human behavior. The unconscious is full of thoughts, feelings, wishes, and memories of which we are unaware. Thanks to psychoanalysis, it becomes possible to discover the causes of people's behavior by reaching these unconscious factors. Psychoanalysis has not only been used in medicine, but has also been used to explore the deeper meanings of literary works. Thanks to this method, it has been possible to get to the root of issues such as the behavior, reactions and belief systems of societies. Psychoanalytic theory and method focuses on the unconscious processes underlying social phenomena and argues that the effects of individuals' thoughts, behaviors and social structures are directed by unconscious impulses and instincts. One of the application areas of psychoanalytic theory is folklore products. Psychoanalytic folklore aims to reveal the unconscious dynamics of society by investigating the common symbols and narratives of the people such as myths, legends, dreams, tales and rituals. In this article, the legend of "Bride Stones" will be examined within the framework of psychoanalytic theory and method. The reason why we chose a legend in which the bride turns into stone is that the marriage period is seen as an important turning point for Turkish society, both individually and socially. One of the aims of our study is to reveal the relationship between human psychology and culture by examining legends, which are a product of culture, with a method of psychology. Another aim is to contribute to the analysis and evaluation processes of the beliefs and practices of the marriage period to be made after us by revealing which unconscious elements are affected by the beliefs and practices of the marriage period through the legend we have discussed.
Psychoanalysis, Legend, Petrifaction.