Traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation among spirit possession practitioners in the Dominican Republic
Schaffler, Yvonne ; Cardeña, Etzel LU
; Haluza, Daniela
and Reijman, Sophie
(2016)
In Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry
p.74-99
- Abstract
- Recent studies in African contexts have revealed a strong association between spirit possession and severe trauma, with inclusion into a possession cult serving at times a therapeutic function. Research on spirit possession in the Dominican Republic has so far not included quantitative studies of trauma and dissociation. This study evaluated demographic variables, somatoform dissociative symptoms, and potentially traumatizing events in the Dominican Republic with a group of Vodou practitioners that either do or do not experience spirit possession. Inter-group comparisons revealed that in contrast to non-possessed participants (n = 38), those experiencing spirit possession (n = 47) reported greater somatoform dissociation, more problems... (More)
- Recent studies in African contexts have revealed a strong association between spirit possession and severe trauma, with inclusion into a possession cult serving at times a therapeutic function. Research on spirit possession in the Dominican Republic has so far not included quantitative studies of trauma and dissociation. This study evaluated demographic variables, somatoform dissociative symptoms, and potentially traumatizing events in the Dominican Republic with a group of Vodou practitioners that either do or do not experience spirit possession. Inter-group comparisons revealed that in contrast to non-possessed participants (n = 38), those experiencing spirit possession (n = 47) reported greater somatoform dissociation, more problems with sleep, and previous exposure to mortal danger such as assaults, accidents, or diseases. The two groups did not differ significantly in other types of trauma. The best predictor variable for group classification was somatoform dissociation, although those items could also reflect the experience of followers during a possession episode. A factor analysis across variables resulted in three factors: having to take responsibility early on in life and taking on a professional spiritual role; traumatic events and pain; and distress/dissociation. In comparison with the non-possessed individuals, the possessed ones did not seem to overall have a remarkably more severe story of trauma and seemed to derive economic gains from possession practice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/8159207
- author
- Schaffler, Yvonne
; Cardeña, Etzel
LU
; Haluza, Daniela
and Reijman, Sophie
- organization
- publishing date
- 2016
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry
- pages
- 74 - 99
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:26427849
- scopus:84956884051
- wos:000369242100005
- pmid:26427849
- ISSN
- 0165-005X
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11013-015-9472-5
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- First published Online, 01 October 2015 The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Center for Research on Consciousness and Anomalous Psychology (CERCAP) (012010280)
- id
- f5372fa8-8f6b-4641-90f8-192bad879fbb (old id 8159207)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:10:45
- date last changed
- 2022-03-05 02:11:55
@article{f5372fa8-8f6b-4641-90f8-192bad879fbb,
abstract = {{Recent studies in African contexts have revealed a strong association between spirit possession and severe trauma, with inclusion into a possession cult serving at times a therapeutic function. Research on spirit possession in the Dominican Republic has so far not included quantitative studies of trauma and dissociation. This study evaluated demographic variables, somatoform dissociative symptoms, and potentially traumatizing events in the Dominican Republic with a group of Vodou practitioners that either do or do not experience spirit possession. Inter-group comparisons revealed that in contrast to non-possessed participants (n = 38), those experiencing spirit possession (n = 47) reported greater somatoform dissociation, more problems with sleep, and previous exposure to mortal danger such as assaults, accidents, or diseases. The two groups did not differ significantly in other types of trauma. The best predictor variable for group classification was somatoform dissociation, although those items could also reflect the experience of followers during a possession episode. A factor analysis across variables resulted in three factors: having to take responsibility early on in life and taking on a professional spiritual role; traumatic events and pain; and distress/dissociation. In comparison with the non-possessed individuals, the possessed ones did not seem to overall have a remarkably more severe story of trauma and seemed to derive economic gains from possession practice.}},
author = {{Schaffler, Yvonne and Cardeña, Etzel and Haluza, Daniela and Reijman, Sophie}},
issn = {{0165-005X}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{74--99}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry}},
title = {{Traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation among spirit possession practitioners in the Dominican Republic}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2445461/8600432.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1007/s11013-015-9472-5}},
year = {{2016}},
}