Shamanism And Psychotherapy Research Paper
Connection and Distinction Between Shamanism And Psychotherapy
Introduction
Shamanism and psychotherapy has many parallel relationships as well as differences. There are 3 basic fundamental aspects of healing which listed as Diagnose and naming process: Healers first step is to recognize what type of disease is the patient suffering from and then try to describe the disease to the patients to prevent the fear of unknowingness.
Healers Characteristics: The healer it self most have power, knowledge, authority, skilled both in mental and physical exertion and good reputation to be recognized as a healer and be trusted by community both …show more content…
in shamanism culture and western culture.
Healing power of faith: hope plays an important role in healing practices. The placebo effect has proven to be one of the most efficient ways to increase the beliefs and hope of wellbeing.
There are many recognizable differences between shamanism and psychotherapy. Two of the most significant diversity between two form of healing is firstly shamans never lose their hope in healing. They define curing and healing in two different aspect so whenever they can not cure their body they start to heal their soul.
Neo-shamanism and traditional shamanism both come from equivalent background however the neo-shamanism is less intense and powerful.
In traditional shamanism they only practice healing only for the benefit of their community; not to gain wealth but in contemporary shamanism they charge patients for their service.
Discussion
Shamanism may be a practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness so as to encounter and collaborate with the spirit world.
A shaman may be a person thought to be having approach and effect in the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who generally enters into a trance state throughout a ritual, and practices divination and healing.
Psychotherapy may be a general term relating therapeutic interaction or treatment contractile between a trained professional and a consumer, patient, family, couple, or group. The issues self-addressed are psychological in nature and may vary in terms of their causes, influences, triggers, and potential resolutions. Specific assessment of these and alternative variables relies on the practitioner’s capability and may alter or evolve as the practitioner acquires greater experience, knowledge, and perception.
Similarities between shamanism and psychotherapy
From the perspective of shamans, they claim to enter the “sprit world” to obtain knowledge and power only to use for the benefit of their community. The majority function of shamans is to predict and prevent illness, or to diagnose and treat …show more content…
it.
The purposes of psychotherapist are to increase the expedition of thoughts, feeling and behaviors regarding problem solving and to accomplish higher level of function to eventually increase every individual’s senses of well being and self satisfaction.
The aim of shamanist or psychotherapist is to heal and improve their health in both mental and physical aspects.
According to a study done by E, Fuller Torrey (1986). He discussed the three fundamental principles of the nature of any effective treatment whether done by shamans or any other practitioners.
(1)A shared world view that provides meaning to the diagnosis or naming process;(2) those personal qualities of the practitioner that facilitate the client’s recovery;(3) positive client expectations (e.g., hope, faith, placebo effects) that assist healing. (Krippner,S, 2012,pp72)
Diagnose and naming Process
Healing in either shamanism or psychotherapy has one very important process and that is naming and diagnosing the disease. Persuading patient the fact that the healer knows their ailment and there is a way of getting well, will produces series of ideas in client’s mind ensuring and contemplating them to trust and believe their healer in any way.
The term disease refers to an impaired process of biological and/or psychological while the term illness refers to the psychosocial experience and the identify disease. Illness can also be described as the disease in term of attention, cognition and emotional activities. (Kleinman,1980)
Keeping in mind the aspects of shamans, the symptoms of the same basic disease can vary widely among cultures.it all depends on individual community on how to interpret the disease and figure out what could have caused it. However the role of Shamans and psychotherapists is to strive to conflict some unconscious level of the patient. The cause and sign of the disease can be laid under the unconsciousness of the patient.
Also symbolizing any disease can convey of why any illness has happened and what caused it, as a basic culture in most part of the world people are scared of unknown, becoming familiar and naming any behavior or a disease can tranquil every individual. Therefore both healing techniques are trying to illustrate the reason and symbolize every disease.
Healers characteristics Shamans often have exceptional qualities in comparison to the rest of their society. Shamans most be powerful physically and devoted in mind, occupied by a demonic spirit or force, skilled in physical and mental exertion further than most individual in their community. In a book written by Rogers he quoted” the shaman must…convey an image of knowledge, authority, prescience, and power” if shaman” fails to maintain the image, his or her healing power may be lost and his or her use to the community destroyed”. (Rogers, 1982)
In psychology practices having a good reputation of understanding the patients illness or disease and being able to easily manage the problems caused by it to the patients both physically and more importantly mentally can increase the positive aspects and believe that every patients can have towards the practitioner. When a psychologist conveys change of personality with problematic behaviors and makes them feel good about themselves is still an art form rather than science. Accordingly being a psychologist ought have extreme talent and qualities in order to be effective even in western communities.
Healing Power of Faith
There is profuse evidence from many studies, which illustrates the importance of patient’s belief or expectancy. The belief of healing in every patient often happens to present extreme strength in his or her ability to battle the disease.
“The history of medicine is actually the history of the placebo response”.
(Frank, 1991,pp227) Frank stated that about half of the drug’s effectiveness is due to the placebo response and the expectation of patient and physicians. Drugs such as lizard blood or swine teeth have no known medicinal effect but it has certainly worked for decades. Frank also added that the healing power of faith consist in the patient’s state of mind, not the actual efficacy of its recipient. (Frank, 1991)
Kiev, A an American psychotherapist done a survey on folk psychiatry and initiated the influences of the patient’s faith in the effectiveness of any type of psychotherapy. (Kiev, 1964)
Placebo is assuming to be the important aspect of both conventional and idiosyncratic healing methods. Also shamans have discovered by expanding expectations of patients they are equally expanding the healing effectiveness.
Distinctions between shamanism and psychotherapy As been discussed there are many similarities in shamanism and psychotherapy. The main point of these practices are diagnosing the disease and healing it. But there have been some cases that happened to be non-curable; at this point many psychotherapist will lose their hope and give up. On the other hand shamans will start their job In cases that patient cannot be cured due to extreme condition however they believe they can certainty be healed by cosmos and one’s mind, emotion and spirit. Some patients can be heeled mentally and emotionally and become reconciled to death. Consequently that’s what makes the difference between shamans and psychotherapists. There is an enormous difference in the relationship of patients and shamans. For example the method of people in Ghana beginning their healing process is to move into the practitioner’s house and spend long period of time with him or her. Number of patients stay together to undergo treatment. Throughout this treatment shamans use variety of empowering methods; for example implementing herbal remedies, incantations, pronouncing and symbolic ritual acts. The patient reveals senses to acknowledge him or her to manage situations in future life’s misfortune. In addition, by undergoing these treatments the patient can learn self-control of other diseases and apply techniques to prevent recurrence of the ailment. Furthermore the psychological problems may be prevented through the learnt knowledge on proper praying and healthy attitude that minimizes depression and anxiety.
One other point of differences between these two healing techniques is the Privacy and period takes to cure a patient. In western medicine the healing process is very private, also social reinforcement is very rare, cause and analysis of disturbance is recognized as secular and the treatment may take up to few month and even years. (Roger,1982).
In shamanism the healing process is mainly public and the social reinforcement is often the case, symbolism manipulation are vital aspect and the process is hardly longer then few days.
Neo-shamanism and traditional shamanism
According to Michael Harner, Professor of anthology, founder of Foundation of shamanic studies and the teacher of “core shamanism” workshops; he described shamanism as “ a spiritual path for personal empowerment”
Harner teaches courses of Neo-shamanism in west, which shows the participants how to enter an altered state of consciousness or trance.
Harner named the shamanic state of consciousness (SSC). He illustrates the ways of entering shamanic experience which starts by a journey traveling through a cave and into the “lower world’. In that place they become familiar and interact with spirit leaders. As the participants become comfortable with the journey they then take more advance workshops to learn ways to heal sicknesses. “Harner method” is the well-known practices of neo-shamanism in western cultures.
Harners techniques of practicing shamanism are safe in comparison to traditional shamanism, which are very dangerous, even life threatening.
One other critical aspect of neo-shamanism that has received disapproval from native shamans is the issue of charging their patients.
“true spiritual leaders do not make a profit from their teaching, whether its through selling books, workshops, sweat lodges, or otherwise. Spiritual leaders teach the people because it is their responsibility to pass what they have learned from their elders to the younger generations. They do not charge for their services. (Smith, 1994)
Conclusion
To conclude it is extremely unrealistic to declare a single point of view as well as most appropriate view on a topic. As we all know people have very versatile view on all sort of things depending on which culture, background, religion, race or country they are coming from.
This theory conjointly applies to distinction and similarities between shamanism and psychotherapy and also among a similar group of traditional shamanism and neo-shamanism. Thus we will not rely on one or another healing techniques, it all depends on what your instinct tell every severally to believe.
Shamans particularly do not only try to heal the physical body but their desire is to educate people about the life after death and cosmos.
Overall the similarities, which includes, diagnoses and naming of the disease, the characteristics and reliability of the healer and the power of faith were the most important which were universal for both shamanism and psychotherapy.
In conclusion the purpose and the aim of any practices is to be able to facilitate other individuals in the community, enhance quality of life and reduce the sickness in our world both physically and mentally.
Differences likewise portrayed how contemporary and modern world has separated society and how in todays world people are isolated from their community and society.
References
Rogers, S. L.1982. “The shaman: His symbols and his Healing power”. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Kippner,S, 2012,”shamans as Healers, Counselors, and Psychotherapists”, International journal of transpersonal studies31(2),pp72-79, Saybrook University, San Francisco
Kleinman, A. (1980). “Patients and healers in the context of culture”, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Frank, J. D., & Frank, J. B. 1991. “Persuasion and healing”, (3rd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Kiev, A. 1964. “The study of folk psychiatry”. In A. Kiev (Ed.), “Magic, faith and healing: Studies in primitive psychiatry today”, (pp. 3-35). New York
Torrey, E. F. 1986. “Witchdoctors and psychiatrists: The common roots of psychotherapy and its future”. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Wallis. R. 1999 ‘Altered States, Conflicting Cultures: Shamans, Neo-Shamans and Academics”, Anthropology of Consciousness 10 (2-3): 41-49
Excellent:
Very
Good
Good
Competent
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Needs Work
Content (60%) - The most important aspect of the assignment
Relevance - Understands the question
Relevance - Answers the question
Clear statement of relevant and manageable research question/hypothesis
Well-informed - Demonstrates knowledge of core materials
Well-informed - Demonstrates research beyond core materials
Uses evidence from source material appropriately (context and relevance)
Employs critical analysis - Not just descriptive
Balanced - Argument supported by appropriate evidence
Balanced - Argument demonstrates original thought
Understands key terms, themes, arguments and problems
Research question/ hypothesis is followed through in the analysis
Own thinking and words - Creativity, cleverness or insight
Conclusions acknowledge the complexity of issues involved
Organisation and expression (30%) – Important in terms of communication
Clear introduction/research question
Ideas organised logically in paragraphs
Smooth and logical transition from point to point
Clear conclusion - incorporating a summary and main point
Clear and concise sentences
Appropriate grammar, punctuation and spelling
Submitted on time? Yes No (< Week) No (>Week)
Extension granted? Yes No - Marks Deducted:
Greatest strengths of the essay:
Two most efficient ways that the author might improve:
Marks:
Introduction
Shamanism and psychotherapy has many parallel relationships as well as differences. There are 3 basic fundamental aspects of healing which listed as Diagnose and naming process: Healers first step is to recognize what type of disease is the patient suffering from and then try to describe the disease to the patients to prevent the fear of unknowingness.
Healers Characteristics: The healer it self most have power, knowledge, authority, skilled both in mental and physical exertion and good reputation to be recognized as a healer and be trusted by community both …show more content…
in shamanism culture and western culture.
Healing power of faith: hope plays an important role in healing practices. The placebo effect has proven to be one of the most efficient ways to increase the beliefs and hope of wellbeing.
There are many recognizable differences between shamanism and psychotherapy. Two of the most significant diversity between two form of healing is firstly shamans never lose their hope in healing. They define curing and healing in two different aspect so whenever they can not cure their body they start to heal their soul.
Neo-shamanism and traditional shamanism both come from equivalent background however the neo-shamanism is less intense and powerful.
In traditional shamanism they only practice healing only for the benefit of their community; not to gain wealth but in contemporary shamanism they charge patients for their service.
Discussion
Shamanism may be a practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness so as to encounter and collaborate with the spirit world.
A shaman may be a person thought to be having approach and effect in the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who generally enters into a trance state throughout a ritual, and practices divination and healing.
Psychotherapy may be a general term relating therapeutic interaction or treatment contractile between a trained professional and a consumer, patient, family, couple, or group. The issues self-addressed are psychological in nature and may vary in terms of their causes, influences, triggers, and potential resolutions. Specific assessment of these and alternative variables relies on the practitioner’s capability and may alter or evolve as the practitioner acquires greater experience, knowledge, and perception.
Similarities between shamanism and psychotherapy
From the perspective of shamans, they claim to enter the “sprit world” to obtain knowledge and power only to use for the benefit of their community. The majority function of shamans is to predict and prevent illness, or to diagnose and treat …show more content…
it.
The purposes of psychotherapist are to increase the expedition of thoughts, feeling and behaviors regarding problem solving and to accomplish higher level of function to eventually increase every individual’s senses of well being and self satisfaction.
The aim of shamanist or psychotherapist is to heal and improve their health in both mental and physical aspects.
According to a study done by E, Fuller Torrey (1986). He discussed the three fundamental principles of the nature of any effective treatment whether done by shamans or any other practitioners.
(1)A shared world view that provides meaning to the diagnosis or naming process;(2) those personal qualities of the practitioner that facilitate the client’s recovery;(3) positive client expectations (e.g., hope, faith, placebo effects) that assist healing. (Krippner,S, 2012,pp72)
Diagnose and naming Process
Healing in either shamanism or psychotherapy has one very important process and that is naming and diagnosing the disease. Persuading patient the fact that the healer knows their ailment and there is a way of getting well, will produces series of ideas in client’s mind ensuring and contemplating them to trust and believe their healer in any way.
The term disease refers to an impaired process of biological and/or psychological while the term illness refers to the psychosocial experience and the identify disease. Illness can also be described as the disease in term of attention, cognition and emotional activities. (Kleinman,1980)
Keeping in mind the aspects of shamans, the symptoms of the same basic disease can vary widely among cultures.it all depends on individual community on how to interpret the disease and figure out what could have caused it. However the role of Shamans and psychotherapists is to strive to conflict some unconscious level of the patient. The cause and sign of the disease can be laid under the unconsciousness of the patient.
Also symbolizing any disease can convey of why any illness has happened and what caused it, as a basic culture in most part of the world people are scared of unknown, becoming familiar and naming any behavior or a disease can tranquil every individual. Therefore both healing techniques are trying to illustrate the reason and symbolize every disease.
Healers characteristics Shamans often have exceptional qualities in comparison to the rest of their society. Shamans most be powerful physically and devoted in mind, occupied by a demonic spirit or force, skilled in physical and mental exertion further than most individual in their community. In a book written by Rogers he quoted” the shaman must…convey an image of knowledge, authority, prescience, and power” if shaman” fails to maintain the image, his or her healing power may be lost and his or her use to the community destroyed”. (Rogers, 1982)
In psychology practices having a good reputation of understanding the patients illness or disease and being able to easily manage the problems caused by it to the patients both physically and more importantly mentally can increase the positive aspects and believe that every patients can have towards the practitioner. When a psychologist conveys change of personality with problematic behaviors and makes them feel good about themselves is still an art form rather than science. Accordingly being a psychologist ought have extreme talent and qualities in order to be effective even in western communities.
Healing Power of Faith
There is profuse evidence from many studies, which illustrates the importance of patient’s belief or expectancy. The belief of healing in every patient often happens to present extreme strength in his or her ability to battle the disease.
“The history of medicine is actually the history of the placebo response”.
(Frank, 1991,pp227) Frank stated that about half of the drug’s effectiveness is due to the placebo response and the expectation of patient and physicians. Drugs such as lizard blood or swine teeth have no known medicinal effect but it has certainly worked for decades. Frank also added that the healing power of faith consist in the patient’s state of mind, not the actual efficacy of its recipient. (Frank, 1991)
Kiev, A an American psychotherapist done a survey on folk psychiatry and initiated the influences of the patient’s faith in the effectiveness of any type of psychotherapy. (Kiev, 1964)
Placebo is assuming to be the important aspect of both conventional and idiosyncratic healing methods. Also shamans have discovered by expanding expectations of patients they are equally expanding the healing effectiveness.
Distinctions between shamanism and psychotherapy As been discussed there are many similarities in shamanism and psychotherapy. The main point of these practices are diagnosing the disease and healing it. But there have been some cases that happened to be non-curable; at this point many psychotherapist will lose their hope and give up. On the other hand shamans will start their job In cases that patient cannot be cured due to extreme condition however they believe they can certainty be healed by cosmos and one’s mind, emotion and spirit. Some patients can be heeled mentally and emotionally and become reconciled to death. Consequently that’s what makes the difference between shamans and psychotherapists. There is an enormous difference in the relationship of patients and shamans. For example the method of people in Ghana beginning their healing process is to move into the practitioner’s house and spend long period of time with him or her. Number of patients stay together to undergo treatment. Throughout this treatment shamans use variety of empowering methods; for example implementing herbal remedies, incantations, pronouncing and symbolic ritual acts. The patient reveals senses to acknowledge him or her to manage situations in future life’s misfortune. In addition, by undergoing these treatments the patient can learn self-control of other diseases and apply techniques to prevent recurrence of the ailment. Furthermore the psychological problems may be prevented through the learnt knowledge on proper praying and healthy attitude that minimizes depression and anxiety.
One other point of differences between these two healing techniques is the Privacy and period takes to cure a patient. In western medicine the healing process is very private, also social reinforcement is very rare, cause and analysis of disturbance is recognized as secular and the treatment may take up to few month and even years. (Roger,1982).
In shamanism the healing process is mainly public and the social reinforcement is often the case, symbolism manipulation are vital aspect and the process is hardly longer then few days.
Neo-shamanism and traditional shamanism
According to Michael Harner, Professor of anthology, founder of Foundation of shamanic studies and the teacher of “core shamanism” workshops; he described shamanism as “ a spiritual path for personal empowerment”
Harner teaches courses of Neo-shamanism in west, which shows the participants how to enter an altered state of consciousness or trance.
Harner named the shamanic state of consciousness (SSC). He illustrates the ways of entering shamanic experience which starts by a journey traveling through a cave and into the “lower world’. In that place they become familiar and interact with spirit leaders. As the participants become comfortable with the journey they then take more advance workshops to learn ways to heal sicknesses. “Harner method” is the well-known practices of neo-shamanism in western cultures.
Harners techniques of practicing shamanism are safe in comparison to traditional shamanism, which are very dangerous, even life threatening.
One other critical aspect of neo-shamanism that has received disapproval from native shamans is the issue of charging their patients.
“true spiritual leaders do not make a profit from their teaching, whether its through selling books, workshops, sweat lodges, or otherwise. Spiritual leaders teach the people because it is their responsibility to pass what they have learned from their elders to the younger generations. They do not charge for their services. (Smith, 1994)
Conclusion
To conclude it is extremely unrealistic to declare a single point of view as well as most appropriate view on a topic. As we all know people have very versatile view on all sort of things depending on which culture, background, religion, race or country they are coming from.
This theory conjointly applies to distinction and similarities between shamanism and psychotherapy and also among a similar group of traditional shamanism and neo-shamanism. Thus we will not rely on one or another healing techniques, it all depends on what your instinct tell every severally to believe.
Shamans particularly do not only try to heal the physical body but their desire is to educate people about the life after death and cosmos.
Overall the similarities, which includes, diagnoses and naming of the disease, the characteristics and reliability of the healer and the power of faith were the most important which were universal for both shamanism and psychotherapy.
In conclusion the purpose and the aim of any practices is to be able to facilitate other individuals in the community, enhance quality of life and reduce the sickness in our world both physically and mentally.
Differences likewise portrayed how contemporary and modern world has separated society and how in todays world people are isolated from their community and society.
References
Rogers, S. L.1982. “The shaman: His symbols and his Healing power”. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Kippner,S, 2012,”shamans as Healers, Counselors, and Psychotherapists”, International journal of transpersonal studies31(2),pp72-79, Saybrook University, San Francisco
Kleinman, A. (1980). “Patients and healers in the context of culture”, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Frank, J. D., & Frank, J. B. 1991. “Persuasion and healing”, (3rd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Kiev, A. 1964. “The study of folk psychiatry”. In A. Kiev (Ed.), “Magic, faith and healing: Studies in primitive psychiatry today”, (pp. 3-35). New York
Torrey, E. F. 1986. “Witchdoctors and psychiatrists: The common roots of psychotherapy and its future”. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Wallis. R. 1999 ‘Altered States, Conflicting Cultures: Shamans, Neo-Shamans and Academics”, Anthropology of Consciousness 10 (2-3): 41-49
Excellent:
Very
Good
Good
Competent
OK
Needs Work
Content (60%) - The most important aspect of the assignment
Relevance - Understands the question
Relevance - Answers the question
Clear statement of relevant and manageable research question/hypothesis
Well-informed - Demonstrates knowledge of core materials
Well-informed - Demonstrates research beyond core materials
Uses evidence from source material appropriately (context and relevance)
Employs critical analysis - Not just descriptive
Balanced - Argument supported by appropriate evidence
Balanced - Argument demonstrates original thought
Understands key terms, themes, arguments and problems
Research question/ hypothesis is followed through in the analysis
Own thinking and words - Creativity, cleverness or insight
Conclusions acknowledge the complexity of issues involved
Organisation and expression (30%) – Important in terms of communication
Clear introduction/research question
Ideas organised logically in paragraphs
Smooth and logical transition from point to point
Clear conclusion - incorporating a summary and main point
Clear and concise sentences
Appropriate grammar, punctuation and spelling
Submitted on time? Yes No (< Week) No (>Week)
Extension granted? Yes No - Marks Deducted:
Greatest strengths of the essay:
Two most efficient ways that the author might improve:
Marks: