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Psychopathology and shamanism in rural Mexico: A case study of spirit possession
Author(s) -
Cramer Marc
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
british journal of medical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.102
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 2044-8341
pISSN - 0007-1129
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1980.tb02870.x
Subject(s) - possession (linguistics) , psychology , personality , subject (documents) , mysticism , social psychology , psychopathology , shamanism , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , theology , philosophy , linguistics , library science , computer science
The so‐called mystical possession of Juan Jose Fong, a socially marginal Chinese‐Mexican of hysterical personality is directly related to the subject's psychological conflicts and emotional complexes and familial and social standing within the immediate cultural context. The subject is seen as suffering from conflicting emotions and cognitions centering around guilt, inferiority and non‐acceptance by his peer group. The personification of his personal problems in the motif of spirit possessions enables the subject to maintain a measure of self‐esteem, social status and personality integration.