Behavioural perspectives on a Sri Lankan healing ritual.

Full Abstract

The paper briefly discusses the way different disciplines have approached the study of illness and healing crossculturally. The theoretical advantages and difficulties of using a behavioural perspective are then outlined. This is then applied to the Sanni Demon ritual of the Sinhalese Buddhists; this ceremony is used to end demonic possession. It is acknowledge that the anthropological and psychoanalytic analyses are useful but it is also shown that the ritual constitutes behavioral treatment. The implications of this in relation to universalistic ideas of normal and abnormal are discussed.

Author information

Author/s: Bartlett, A (A);

Affiliation: Interim Secure Unit, Hackney Hospital, London, UK.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Review

Journal: The International journal of social psychiatry (Int J Soc Psychiatry), published in ENGLAND. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1989-; vol 35 (issue 3) : pp 245-51

Dates: Created 1989/12/26; Completed 1989/12/26; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 2684888, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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