Today’s blog
post is dedicated to a discussion of cross-cultural phenomenon of spirit
possessions. Spirit possessions are identified
as changing individuals by a spirit entity or power who either strongly
influences but most often takes over the individual’s soul, personality, and/or
body. Cultural groups from all over the
world, particularly those in southeast Asia, Africa, and indigenous groups
across the New World, have recorded instances of spirit possession that have
and in many cases continue to occur today.
This blog post will discuss these cross cultural phenomenon of spirit
possessions, the actual causes of these phenomenon, as well as the cultural
explanations for their existence.
Spirit
possessions are common cross-culturally, but they only occur in cultures that
have an ideological belief in spirits or spirit-like creatures. These entities go by a variety of names, such
as djinns, demons, gheshi, and zar, just to name a few, and all are considered
to have malicious intents. In addition
to ideological foundations, there also tends to a lack of understanding of
health, disease, and mental illness (regardless of whether or not individuals
have access to and/or been informed of the realities of these) among believers
of spirit possessions. Possessions are
typically identified among individuals, particularly women, who act in abnormal
or socially unacceptable ways. For
example, the Catholic Church identifies possessed individuals having superhuman
strength, spitting, cursing, and practicing masturbation, while the Chuuk of
Micronesia associate possession with violent shaking, wild activity, moaning
and crying, screaming, and changes in voice pitch. All of these behaviors are considered deviant
in some way, which helps to identify them as being associated with spirit
possession, but in reality these behaviors may be acts of deviance undertaken
by the “possessed” or due to either a mental, emotional, or physical impairment. Medical professionals recognize that most “possessed”
individuals have a diagnosable (and sometimes treatable) illness, such as schizophrenia,
autism, depression, seizures/epilepsy, etc.
Spirit
possessions have occurred historically as well as continue today. Spirit possessions can occur in isolation or
in waves. Isolated incidents are common
among individuals who are experiencing some sort of personal turmoil, whereas epidemics
of spirit possessions tend occur when societies are experiencing economic,
political, or social unrest. In these
ways spirit possessions act as “culture free-zones”, which free the possessed from
cultural norms and allow possessed and those around him or her to cope with the
situation leading to the identification of possession, be it a legitimate
health concern or a personal incident.
It acts as a cultural time out, so to speak, to allow individuals to try
to understand their personal and cultural circumstances. This is not meant to downplay the severity of
the situation, particularly in the event of disruptions to health, but it
provides time and space for the individuals involved to cope with that which
they do not understand.
Similarly to
many other supernatural explanations of cultural phenomenon already discussed
on the blog (e.g. vampires, dibbuks, witchcraft, etc.) the pattern of trying to
understand the world seems to be a cultural universal, as well as evidence of
our higher order thinking that distinguishes humans from other primates and
animals. While the choice of seeking a
supernatural explanation for natural phenomenon may seem extreme it is actually
quite common, particularly as turning to ideological convictions occurs among
individuals who have a strong understanding of science.
Bibliography
Cohen, E. 2008. “What is Spirit Possession? Defining,
Comparing, and Explaining Two Possession Forms.” Ethnos
73: 1-25.
Jumreornvong,
N. 2015.
“Exorcism & Mental Illness Across Different Cultures.” Huntington’s Outreach Project for Education,
at Stanford.
Hezal,
F.X. No Date. “Spirit Possession in Chuuk: A Socio-Cultural
Interpretation” Micronesian
Seminar.
Mehraby,
N. 2009.
“Possessed or Crazy? Mental
Illness Across Cultures.” Interface:
Considerations of Difference.
No
Author. 2016. “Mediumship and Spirit Possession in a
Cross-Cultural Context.” Psi-Encyclopedia.
Radford,
B. 2013.
“Exorcism: Facts & Fiction About Demonic Possession.” Live Science.
Wedel,
J. 2012.
“Involuntary Mass Spirit Possession Among the Miskitu.” Anthropology & Medicine. 19: 303-314.
39 comments:
To my own understanding, spirit possess many individual in many ways.those spirit are evil and can destroy individual for life,because some of the spirit goes along with culture.
Today i have learned that possession could be called names such as djinns, demons, gheshi, and zar. Possessions are usually identified among individuals mostly women, who act in abnormal or unacceptable ways. Actions such as superhuman strength, spitting, cursing, and practicing masturbation, violent shaking, wild activity, moaning, crying, screaming, and changes in voice pitch are all actions over possession. Spirit possessions can show in isolation or in waves. -Javante West SA-202
Reading this I learned there are different names for possession, and that they are mostly in women., but why not men as well? they do the same as women do. I'm very supernatural I don't know why I believe in that stuff. -Aaliyah Caldwell
Excellent question, Aaliyah. The reason probably ties back to the power and privilege afforded men in many (but not all) societies globally. Because spirit possession is most often associated with deviant behaviors men are more able to avoid that label than women, who are in a less dominant possession compared to men. :(
This was a very interesting blog post. I have heard of spirit possessions but never have I thought about how other cultures see it. The most interesting part was that the possession was mainly identified in women. Sounds kind of sexist to me. Like men aren't or cant be possessed? Anyhow I enjoyed the blog and learning more about the history of possessions from other cultural backgrounds.
I actually addressed that in the previous comment.
I have always thought that the “possessions” could be linked to mental illness and that is what we just wanted to blame it on are sprits and try to let our faith cure them. I have actually read a recent story of a girl getting “possessed” and they just went to the church and had them Exorcise her for I think weeks and she ended up dying though this and that really sad.
The main problem I find with identifying a spiritual possession is that, like you said, it most often happens to people experiencing some sort of turmoil. That leads me to think that many, but not all, possessions in history are regular humans simply suffering from psychotic breaks.
I never really heard of possessions coming in waves i had mostly heard of isolated incidents and they were few and far between. And now to think of it when ever you watch a movie it is normally the female character to be possessed which I never realized until you brought up how it is more often the women who get possessed and not men.
I Certainly believe in paranormal phenomenons occurring. I feel as though some are true and some are not. I believe in ghosts/spirits but not vampires for example. I feel as though people recognize the more vile evil spirits thought and don't really know about good spirits such as the holy spirit which is biblical.
I never believed in possessions always heard of something like that in shows and movies and don't know how to think of the topic
I'm not all that sure on where I stand in my beliefs on spirits. On one hand, I say that I believe in them but on the other hand, when someone I know claims they had a spiritual experience I can't help but question it and whether it really happened. However, as addressed by the previous comment, I do feel that most people only tend to focus on the bad or evil spirits and forget about the good ones. I find it interesting that it is mainly women who are recorded as having these possession experiences rather than men. It surprised me that being Catholic, I did not realize that just by doing what most people these days consider normal such as spitting and cursing, you would be believed to be possessed. - Shannon
This article was very interesting to read because I never really gave thought into if spirit possession were something that was factual. I always thought that when talked about individuals being possessed that they were just making up a story to scare people. After reading this, I now somewhat believe in spirit possession. -Brianne Pickett
I too wanted to know as why only spirits possesses the body of a woman and not a man. I've noticed in every type of scary movie they always pick a young girl or woman to be possessed by a spirit.
Growing up in church I was taught to not believe possessions. I did here that when your watching some tv shows that's scary Certain spirits can come out the tv so my grandma have always told us not to watch certain things. I do believe that some people are cured which cause them to act in deviant ways that's not normal.
This article was very interesting it taught me somethings I didn't even know about spirit possessions as far as all the names used to describe it. I don't believe in spirit possessions it's not something I like to look into or research.
I personally thought this was a good read for the most part but the spirit possession could be a cultural thing in terms of some cultures may believe in it while some might not.
- Arthur Holloway
Learning from this blog that most possessions are typically identified among individuals, particularly women. I wonder why not in men? Based off what I already knew how they act when they possessed from movies seems just about the same from what the blog says. It says that they act in abnormal or socially unacceptable ways. For example, the Catholic Church identifies possessed individuals having superhuman strength, spitting, cursing, and practicing masturbation,and some say that possession comes with violent shaking, wild activity, moaning and crying, screaming, and changes in voice pitch.
Ainya Lomax Soc412
Out of all the spirit movies and documentaries exorcism has always been one that has interested me. Though i do have my doubts about spirits and that ability i found i kind of cool honestly.
I have learned that possession has meany different meanings and primarily have to do with women. This is strange to me because men do some of the same acts which makes me feel that is something fishy.
I believe possession is very real. I also learned from me being in church that those who are possessed can sit and act completely normal around other people and you would never think he or she was possessed.
I do believe that possession is real but it definitely scares me to be honest.
my understanding of spirit possess many individual in many ways those spirit are evil and can destroy individual for life.
Tiffany Heavens
- So are you saying that people who have illness such as autism etc are at a higher risk for spirit possession?
No, not at all. People who do not understand these illnesses may identify them as spirit possessions.
I find it interesting that medical professionals recognize that most “possessed” individuals have a diagnosable illness, such as schizophrenia, autism, depression, seizures/epilepsy, etc. However I don't agree with that statement.
I believe that there are sprits and all wre not evil. I did not know that there were different names for possession. Do you agree with this blog post about sprit possess?
-Daisha Benton
This post is very interesting. In today's society, spirit possessions are portrayed in many different ways, some worse than others. I feel like this post really gives you a better understanding of what they actually are.
You said the Chuuk of Micronesia associate a spiritual possession with changes in a voices pitch, well, does this mean the Chuuk believes this is what happens to adolescents undergoing puberty, or are voice cracks considered normal as well?
Amber Barnes
Do you think that possession is an actual thing?
I always found the topics about spirits and possession to be interesting and confusing. In this article I find it really interesting that Medical Professionals think one is "possessed" because they have a medical illness.
This was a very interesting blog post. I have never heard of spirit possessions, but i heard of demons. The topic about spirits and possession is confusing to me.
-Micah Seals
By: Besty
The main problem I find with identifying a spiritual possession is that, like you said, it most often happens to people experiencing some sort of turmoil. That leads me to think that many, but not all, possessions in history are regular humans simply suffering from psychotic breaks.
This makes sense because it could possibly be a person having PSYCHOTIC break downs. however,if there already experiencing turmoil. they're more than likely to assume they're possessed.
Spirit Possession is commonly found in scary movies now days. You do not hear much about demons unless it is portrayed in a fictitious way. I do find the topic interesting because there is so much to learn about it.
Kahla Perry
My name is Tonii Saffore. This post was actually very spooky, because its talking about possessions. Which is one of those thoughts i have like, could it be true? Can a spirit actually enter a person? I honestly dont even want to know, although i like that i have more Intel about it. I just like to stay away from that kind of stuff.
I have known about spirit assets but never have I wondered how different societies see it. The most intriguing part was that the ownership was highly distinguished by ladies.
-jasmine busby
Ok so a lot of these traits of being possessed sounds a lot like traits from having sex, do you think they look at sex as evil practices? this is a serious question.
Christopher McFadden
Chris, it is interesting that you think of sex when you read through the traits because these could just as easily be associated with a variety of illnesses, including mental or physical illnesses. Regarding whether or not sexual acts are considered deviant in any given culture that depends on the culture. As you may have learned in the multiple anthropology courses you have taken there are certain cultures that have very strict taboos about sex and others that do not. Therefore it is difficult to answer your question given the diversity of cultures and beliefs that exist globally.
I liked reading about the different aspects of spirit possessions and how their viewed in different cultures. It is very settling to know that medical professionals recognize the "possesed" individuals as having a diagnosable illness.
Elaine christopher
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