An existential perspective on the psychological function of shamans. (6th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schindler, Simon; Greenberg, Jeff; Pfattheicher, Stefan
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 41(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-04-06
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X17002163
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: Shamans deal with events that involve the threat of death. They help buffer death anxiety because, through their claimed supernatural abilities, they can provide both hope for averting death and evidence for existence of a spirit world offering continuance beyond death. Thus, managing the threat of mortality probably played a major role in the development and maintenance of shamanism.