Altered States of Consciousness and Mental Health: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

This edited volume examines altered states of consciousness (trance, possession, hypnosis) and their relationship to mental health across cultures. Part one addresses theoretical and methodological issues in cross-cultural study. Part two explores psychopathology links, including demonology and medieval madness, possession syndrome in India, and the strategic nature of multiple personality. Part three focuses on therapeutic aspects, such as religious experiences as self-healing, Native American dance ceremonials, and Brazilian mediumship. Part four offers alternative perspectives, including magical thinking, dramaturgical analysis of Malaysian spirit seances, and the role of hallucinogens in ancient Moche society. The collection argues that these states are not merely pathological but can be culturally meaningful and therapeutic.

Study at a glance

Abstract

PART ONE: ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES The Cross-cultural Study of Altered States of Consciousness and Mental Health - Colleen A Ward From Disease to Discourse - Michael Lambek Remarks on the Conceptualization of Trance and Spirit Possession PART TWO: ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 'Ravished of a Fiend' - Simon Kemp Demonology and Medieval Madness Possession Syndrome in India - C R Chandra Shekar Hypnosis, Demonic Possession and Multiple Personality - Nicholas P Spanos Strategic Enactments and Disavowals of Responsibility for Actions Possession and Exorcism - Psychopathology and Psychotherapy in a Magico-Religious Context - Colleen A Ward PART THREE: THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Religious Experiences as Self-Healing Mechanisms - J P Valla and Raymond Prince Therapeutic Use of Altered States of Consciousness in Contemporary North American Indian Dance Ceremonials - Wolfgang Jilek A Call to Heal - Stanley Krippner Entry Patterns in Brazilian Mediumship Healing and Transformation - Richard Katz Perspectives on Development, Education and Community PART FOUR: ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Altered States of Consciousness, Magical Thinking and Psychopathology - Leonard Zusne The Case of Ludwig Staudenmaier Self Presentation in Malaysian Spirit Seances - Raymond L M Lee A Dramaturgical Perspective on Altered States of Consciousness in Healing Ceremonies Stressing Social Change and Songhay Possession - Paul Stoller Power and Hallucinogenic States of Consciousness Among the Moche - Marlene Dobkin de Rios An Ancient Peruvian Society