Shamans: Empowered healers or psychopaths

Abstract

Article examines the controversy over shamanic inspirication from the vantages of the leading advocates of each position. Ackerknecht is arguing that shamans are normal people filling a particular niche within their culture. Devereux views shamanism not as a cultural role but as a symptom of mental disorder. Kwiatkowski's critical treatment of this debate reflects a middle of the road approach, attempting to find a synthetic theory making the two polar positions compatible.