Some needed psychological clarifications on the experience(s) of shamanism.
Etzel Cardeña, Stanley Krippner
Behavioral and Brain Sciences January 2018 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x17002035 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Shamanism |
| Key points | Argues that the target article's core concepts are confused and excessively broad. Proposes distinguishing magical flight (visual, remembered experiences of other realms) from mediumship/possession (embodied ceding of mental control and personality to a preternatural entity), and contends these correspond broadly to two experience modalities seen in highly hypnotizable individuals in secular settings. |
Abstract
The target article's use of core concepts is confused and excessively broad. Two main types of experiences have been described in relation to shamanism: magical flight and mediumship/possession. The first refers to visual and remembered experiences of events in other realms, the second to embodied experiences of ceding mental control and personality to a preternatural entity. These experiences grossly correspond to two main experience modalities exhibited by highly hypnotizable individuals in a secular setting.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 3
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- "He Who Has the Spirits Must Work a Lot": A Psycho-Anthropological Account of Spirit Possession in the Dominican Republic. Ethos December 1, 2018