Spirit possession in South Asia, dissociation or hysteria? Part 1: Theoretical background.
Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry March 1, 1994 DOI: 10.1007/bf01384875 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 68 |
| Key points | Argues that dissociation theory is a better theoretical tool than psychoanalytic or biological psychiatry for studying pathological spirit possession in South Asia. |
Abstract
Psychoanalytic theory appears flawed in its notions of universal oedipal conflict and repression, and unsuitable for the study of pathological spirit possession in South Asia. The biological theory of contemporary psychiatry is no more effective in this analysis because mental illnesses are constituted within culture-bound categories of experience. Dissociation theory offers a better theoretical tool for this type of research. A summary of the history of paradigm shifts in psychiatric theory relevant to spirit possession is presented.