Magico-Religious Practitioner Types and Socioeconomic Conditions
Cross-Cultural Research February 1, 1986 DOI: 10.1177/106939718602000102 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-cultural comparative analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Cross-cultural sample of societies |
| Citations | 57 |
| Key points | Argues that types of magico-religious practitioners correspond to levels of societal organization, with Shamans in hunting and gathering societies, Shaman/Healers and Priests in agricultural societies, and Healers, Mediums, and Malevolent Practitioners in politically integrated societies. Proposes three bases for these roles: a universal basis related to trance states, sociopolitical power, and conflict between trance-based local power and stratified political power. |
Abstract
A typology of magico-religious practitioners is determined in a cross- cultural sample. Shamans were found in hunting and gathering soci eties ; Shaman/Healers and Priests in agricultural societies; and Healers, Mediums, and Malevolent Practitioners in societies with political integration. Analysis of selection procedures and activities suggests three bases for magico-religious practitioners: a universal basis related to trance states; sociopolitical power in societies with political integra tion ; and conflict between trance-based local power and stratified political power.