Transe et langage en Nouvelle-Guinée. II. Du symptôme au rite

After analysing the psychosomatic behaviours and the cultural rôles in the Amanab possession (J.S.O. 47, June 1975), the author compares hysterical types of behaviour (dissociation, depersonalisation) in several New Guinea societies, basing himself on anthropological and psychiatric literature. The comparison mainly concerns the degree of socialisation or ritualisation of the syndromes and shows by which methods, and according to which needs, the culture recovers (or sometimes neglects) each of the particular symptoms, thus giving them a sense, and the status of a sign. Sometimes the syndrome is completely integrated and assimilated by the society and becomes institutional, sometimes (New Guinea Highlands) it is simply "put into orbit", that is, put aside without being totally rejected

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