A Cross-Cultural Search for Shamanism

In eHRAF’s Advanced Search the “Add Subjects” function can be used to pick “shamanism” as OCM subject. This and other OCM subjects can be used to search across all cultures and to find paragraphs and pages of ethnographic texts with information on shamanism, psychotherapists, faith healers, psychoanalysts, clinical psychologists); physical, mental, and social characteristics; source of power (e.g., inheritance, spirit helpers, specialized knowledge); training and initiation; prerogatives and disabilities; special paraphernalia and behavior; source of support (e.g., gifts, fees); penalties for failure; relations between practitioners (e.g., rivalry, organization); shamanism as a religious complex; special organizations (e.g., medicine societies, psychoanalytic societies); etc.

This image shows “shamanism” as selected OCM subject in an Advanced Search in eHRAF World Cultures.

An Advanced Search for the OCM subject “Shamanism” (OCM 756). Only using the OCM subject will automatically perform a cross-cultural search.

Using OCM subject(s) in an Advanced Search in eHRAF World Cultures

Step 1. Find a subject that is related to shamanism.
Click Add Subjects –use A-Z index, Major Subjects, ortabs to find “matching” subjects for your topic:
>A-Z Index (type the word “shaman” in index box) or
>Major Subjects>”Health, Illness, Medicine, and Death” >Sickness>Shamans and psychotherapists (756)
>OCM Code>700 range under “Sickness”>Shamans and psychotherapists (756)

Step 2. Click “Search” to perform a cross-cultural search. This will search the ethnographic texts of cultures, ethnic groups, and indigenous people of major geographic regions (e.g. Africa, Asia, Middle East, etc.).

Try your own eHRAF Advanced Search in eHRAF World Cultures . Contact hraf@yale.edu for a current login.