Possession

Chandler & Sharp • San Francisco, CA • Published In • Pages: ??•
By Bourguignon, Erika

Abstract

This book investigates possession and possession-trance. While the author focuses on a case study of Haiti, there are also a handful of cross cultural tests performed. Results suggest that societal complexity is associated with belief in possession-trance, rather than possession alone.

Note

See chapter 4 for cross-cultural tests.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic Atlas (EA)Combination

Hypotheses (5)

HypothesisSupported
Possession-belief-only will be associated with hunting, gathering, and fishing for 46% or more of subsistence; possession-trance belief will be associated with agriculture and/or animal husbandry (43).Supported
Possession-belief-only will be associated with nomadism; possession-trance belief will be associated with sedentarism (43).Supported
Possession-belief-only will be associated with small society size; possession-trance belief will be associated with large population size (43).Supported
Possession-trance belief will be associated with jurisdictional hierarchy beyond the local level; possession-belief-only will not (43).Supported
Possession-trance belief will be associated with class structure or slavery; possession-belief only will not (44).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Amelia Piazza