Complexity and possession: Gender and social structure in the variability of shamanic traits.
Connor P. Wood, Kate J. Stockly
Behav Brain Sci January 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x17002229 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractShamanistic trance forms vary systematically with cultural conditions. Possession trance, where a spirit takes over the body, is more often experienced by women and appears in more complex societies, whereas non-possession trance is not. The author argues that understanding these differences is essential for explaining how shamanism becomes professionalized and spreads across cultures.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 5 |
| Key finding | Argues that cultural conditions shape shamanistic trance forms beyond mere presence or absence, with possession trance being disproportionately female-dominated and found in complex societies. |
Abstract
Singh deploys cultural evolution to explain recurrent features of shamanistic trance forms, but fails to substantively address important distinctions between these forms. Possession trance (vs. trance without possession) is disproportionately female-dominated and found in complex societies. The effects of cultural conditions on shamanism thus extend beyond its presence or absence and are vital for modeling its professionalization and spread.