Shamans and other "magico-religious" healers: a cross-cultural study of their origins, nature, and social transformations

Ethos • Vol/Iss. 18 • Published In 1990 • Pages: 308-352 •

By Winkelman, Michael James

Abstract

This article examines shamans and other types of magico-religious healers. Agriculture and political integration are suggested to influence the transformation of shamans into shaman/healers, healers, or possession-trance mediums.

Samples
Sample Used	Coded Data	Comment
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)

Hypotheses (5)
Hypothesis	Supported
The presence of shamans will be positively associated with nomadic residency patterns and negatively associated with political integration beyond the local community (319).	Supported
The presence of shaman/healers will be positively associated with a major reliance on agriculture as a food source (328).	Supported
The presence of healers will be positively associated with political integration beyond the community level (328).	Supported
The presence of mediums will be positively associated with political integration beyond the community level (329).	Supported
The presence of priests will be positively associated with political integration and the presence of agriculture (345).	Supported

Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings Amelia Piazza

Shamans and other "magico-religious" healers: a cross-cultural study of their origins, nature, and social transformations

Ethos • Vol/Iss. 18 • Published In 1990 • Pages: 308-352 • Cite

By Winkelman, Michael James

Abstract

Samples

Hypotheses (5)

Ethos • Vol/Iss. 18 • Published In 1990 • Pages: 308-352 •