Understanding spirit possession in the Philippines: a social representations approach

Filipino health professionals and laypeople hold five distinct yet overlapping representations of spirit possession: as sinakluban (being overtaken by a spirit), as a vulnerability, as a disease, as kulam (witchcraft or sorcery), and as being chosen. These themes emerge from interviews with 12 individuals and reveal how Western biomedical and psychological views coexist with local religious and traditional folk beliefs. The findings highlight the complex interface among religion, indigenous beliefs, psychopathological frameworks, and the Western biomedical model in shaping understandings of possession.

Study at a glance

Abstract

ABSTRACT Where there are diverse professionals and curers dealing with possession, differences in representations exist. This study uses social representations theory as a frame to examine both the representational overlaps and differences in possession among various Filipino health professionals and the lay distinctly socialised in Western biomedical and psychological lenses and in local religious and traditional folk beliefs. Themes were extracted from 12 individual interviews. Results showed five representational themes, namely: possession as sinakluban, as a vulnerability, as a disease, as kulam, and as being chosen. Findings were discussed in relation to the interface among religion, indigenous beliefs, psychopathological frame, and the Western biomedical model.