SHAMANISM

Definition

    “…shamanism can be described as a body of techniques and activities that supposedly enable its practitioners to access information that is not ordinarily attainable by members of the social group that gave them privileged status. These practitioners use this information in attempts to meet the needs of this group and its members” (Krippner, 2002, p. 963).

Types

    Shamans and Healers (nomadic)
    Priests / Priestesses (agricultural)
    Diviners, Seers, and Mediums (state)
    Witches and Sorcerers (state)

Skills

    Diagnosis and Treatment
    Working with Benevolent Spirits
    Fighting Malevolent Spirits
    Sacred Rituals
    Dream Interpretation
    Herbal Remedies
    Self-regulation of Body and Mind
    
Models of Shamanism

    Demonic – Consorting with the Devil

        Ethic to End Suffering via Service

    Charlatan – Resorting to Trickery

        Shamans Often Have Unusual Abilities
        Deception / Manipulation Can Promote Healing

    Schizophrenia – Suffering from Mental Illness

        High Reality Testing
        Comparable Incidence of Psychiatric Disorders
        Wounded Healer or Fantasy Prone

    Soul Flight – Altering Consciousness

        Attentional States (e.g., elevated perception)
    
            Diverse
            Voluntary Control
            Preservation of Memory
            Communication with Others
            Usefulness

    Decadent and Crude – Seeking Consciousness

        Ethnocentric Research and Criticism      
        Unitive Experience as a Cultural Value
        Cultivating Wisdom for the Communal Good

    Deconstructionism – Struggling against / for Power
        
        Conveying Mysterious Knowledge
        Challenges Dysfunctional Status Quo
        Creates a More Adaptive Alternative

What Can Psychology Learn from Shamanism?

    Cognitive Neuroscience

        Brain Activity Associated with Altered Attentional States (temporal lobe)

            Rituals (e.g., drumming) – Theta Waves       
            Unifying Experiences – Cognitive Networks

    Social Psychology

        Shamanic Influence May Be Linked to

            A Shared View of Problem/Illness
            Positive Outcome Expectancies
            Confidence in the Healer
            Community Support

    Psychotherapy

        Cultural Definitions of Problems and Causes
        Cultural Competence in Treatment
        Culturally Appropriate Treatment Outcomes

DISCUSSION:

➢    What elements of shamanism are common to counseling and what features are distinct?

➢    Are there ethical concerns that prevent psychologists from partnering with indigenous healers?

➢    Why does psychology show so little interest in and respect for shamanism?