Slide 1Mexican SpiritismSlide 3Slide 4Spiritism, class, & powerSlide 6ETIOLOGY (Knowledge about causes of disease)Humeral medicineCulture & belief systemssustoSYMPTOMSTREATMENTFUNCTIONALIST INTERPRETATION OF WITCH BELIEFS (LAURA bOHANan)Mexican SpiritismMexican Spiritism&&Humeral medicineHumeral medicine2Mexican SpiritismMexican Spiritism•Arose mid-19th C.—an era of political, economic, & social turbulence•Inquisition—women resisted powerlessness at the hands of male authorities•Resorted to superstition to control men’s sexual authority3–Courts sided with men so women used witchcraft to retaliate against men–They aimed to reduce brutal treatment & infidelity–Witchcraft empowered women since they had knowledge of sexual powers(Re: danger of uncontrolled power)4–1855-62 Liberal Reforms•Increased social inequalities–1910-17 Revolution•Generated understandings related to illness that spread to rural areas5Spiritism, class, & powerSpiritism, class, & power•Spiritualism is a response to increasing class differentiation •Social mobility is not available•Spiritualists lack power, thus gain it by controlling spirits–Women hold ritual positions within spiritualism–Where they otherwise lack control6•The individual removes themselves from encounters with class & power differences–Seeking dignity & equality–An escape from social conflict7ETIOLOGYETIOLOGY(Knowledge about causes of disease)(Knowledge about causes of disease)•THE CAUSAL EPISODE IS LOOSELY DEFINED–THERE IS MUCH LATITUDE IN FINDING A CAUSE THAT FITS PERSONAL FICTION–APPEARS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF AN EPISODE IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS UNABLE TO MEET SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS–PROVIDES AN EXPLANATION FOR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR8Humeral medicineHumeral medicine•4 Humors4 HumorsYELLOW BILEYELLOW BILEFIREFIREHOTHOTDRYDRYEARTHEARTHAIRAIRWATERWATERCOLDCOLDWETWETBLACK BILEBLOODBLOODPHLEGMPHLEGM9Culture & belief systemsCulture & belief systems•Ojo (evil eye)•Envidia (envy)•Aire (bad air)•Susto (fright)—leads to soul loss10sustosusto•Is a culturally sanctioned avenue of escape for an individual suffering from culturally-induced stress•The behavior is not due to the character of the individual, but because she has been “asustada”•Asustadas have impunity to engage in behavior otherwise considered offensive•She can impose her own definition on a situation giving her deviant acts legitimacy•Gives her control over interactions11SYMPTOMSSYMPTOMS•CORAJE, SUSTO, ENVIDIA = HOT EXPERIENCES–AVOID HOT FOODS (BEEF, ASPIRIN)WORKING WITH HANDS•AIRE = COLD EXPERIENCE–AVOID COLD FOODS (CHICKEN SOUP, ORANGES, ALKA SELTZER)•PATIENTS SUFFER LISTNESSNESS, APPETITE LOSS, WITHDRAWAL FROM SOCIAL INTERACTION12TREATMENTTREATMENTTO REGAIN HEALTH: BALANCE AMONG THE HUMORS•LACK OF BALANCE (SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SPIRITUAL) CAUSES ILLNESS•CURANDEROS–CLEANSE BODY WITH EGG•TO EXTRACT EXCESS COLD–HERBS, CANDLES, MASSAGES, INCANTATIONS•BRUJAS (WITCHES) CAUSE HARM13FUNCTIONALIST FUNCTIONALIST INTERPRETATION OF INTERPRETATION OF WITCH BELIEFS WITCH BELIEFS (LAURA bOHANan)(LAURA bOHANan)•Explains the inexplicable•Enforces conformity to norms•Provides a scapegoat•Provides a role for social deviants•Accusations increase during periods of stress