Complexity and possession: Gender and social structure in the variability of shamanic traits.
Connor P. Wood, Kate J. Stockly
Behav Brain Sci January 1, 2018 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x17002229 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractShamanistic trance forms vary systematically with cultural conditions. Possession trance, where a spirit takes over the body, is more often experienced by women and appears in more complex societies, whereas non-possession trance is not. The author argues that understanding these differences is essential for explaining how shamanism becomes professionalized and spreads across cultures.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 5 |
| Key finding | Possession trance is disproportionately female-dominated and found in complex societies, while non-possession trance is not, indicating that cultural conditions affect shamanism beyond its mere presence or absence. |
Abstract
Singh deploys cultural evolution to explain recurrent features of shamanistic trance forms, but fails to substantively address important distinctions between these forms. Possession trance (vs. trance without possession) is disproportionately female-dominated and found in complex societies. The effects of cultural conditions on shamanism thus extend beyond its presence or absence and are vital for modeling its professionalization and spread.