Of gods and men: The gift of bicameral mentality in Lake Atitlán's Mayan oral literature
José M. Franco Rodríguez, Daniel Montoya
Anthropology of Consciousness March 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/anoc.12236 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 78 |
| Population | Mayan oral narratives from Lake Atitlán, Guatemala |
| Key findings | The authors report that 78 Mayan oral narratives contain traces of Jaynesian bicamerality, such as inner voices giving way to divination, anomalous mental states, supernatural encounters, and possession. They argue these phenomena are presented as abilities rather than pathologies, suggesting the Maya may not have suppressed them as much as other societies are presumed to have done. |
Abstract
AbstractThis study investigates contemporary Mayan oral stories through the lens of Julian Jaynes's theory on the origin of consciousness, aiming to identify a potential connection between the literary elements of these narratives and traits of pre‐consciousness outlined by Jaynes. Jaynes's neuropsychological thesis argues that human consciousness emerged around 3000 years ago after a period of “bicameral mind,” characterized by auditory “hallucinations” that guided non‐habitual behavior. He claims that remnants of bicameral mentality linger to this day in all cultures. While his theoretical framework has been applied to cultures in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, this research uniquely surveys early Mayan texts and focuses on 78 oral narratives from Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Our findings reveal traces of bicamerality, evident in the gradual fading of inner voices replaced by divination, anomalous mental states, encounters with the supernatural, and spiritual possession. Contrary to pathologizing these phenomena, the narratives often present them as abilities the Maya may not have felt culturally compelled to suppress to the extent presumed in other societies.