Two perspectives on the etiology of pibloktoq
Citation
Lister, Janet. (1989).Two perspectives on the etiology of pibloktoq. -- Lambda Alpha Journal of Man, v.20, p.111-129.
Abstract
Mental illness may be viewed as a disorder common to
the human condition and has long been the sUbject of
investigation by various disciplines. Anthropology brings a
cross-cultural perspective to this inquiry. Two divergent
approaches to the etiology of mental illness are evident in
the literature on mental disorders in other cultures. This
paper presents an overview of both etiological perspectives
with Arctic Hysteria as the focus.
Various areas of the circumpolar region and particular
populations inhabiting the areas have been specified in the
literature as displaying hysterical-like mental disorders
known as the Arctic Hysterias. This paper generalizes
the subject matter to the "traditional" Eskimos (before
culture contact change) who inhabit the polar regions and
who exhibit these behaviors. The native term, "pibloktoq,"
is used used to denote this condition.