CultureDecember 2, 2021Wolfgang G. Jilek1 citation
The author presents examples of pathogenic influence of culture. He identifies specific pathogenic factors associated with rapid socio-cultural change affecting North American Indians and African populations and sketches the resulting typical psychopathological conditions: anomic depression in Amerindians, transient psychotic reactions (bouffée délirante) in Africans. Witchcraft and sorcery...
This study is based on analysis of ethnographic literature; personal observation of contemporary spirit dance and healing ceremonies in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia; individual interviews with Coast Salish Indian leaders, ritualists, and other spirit ceremonial participants; and on five years of close contact with the Upper Stalo Indians as physician and regional mental health officer....
Consecutive waves of paleolithic migrants crossing the Bering land bridge from Siberia to North America between 80,000 and 7,000 b.c. brought with them the shamanic way of harnessing supernatural powers. This way prevailed until the White intrusion 400 years ago, into the living space of the aboriginal peoples of North America. Wherever European political, religious, and economic dominance was...