Psychopathology
Original Paper
Possession by the ‘Zar’ among Ethiopian Immigrants to Israel: Psychopathology or Culture-Bound Syndrome?Grisaru N.a · Budowski D.b · Witztum E.aaBeer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, b‘Bethachin’ – The Institute for the Culture of Ethiopian Jewry, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Article / Publication Details
Published online: February 10, 2010
Issue release date: 1997
Number of Print Pages: 11
Number of Figures: 0
Number of Tables: 0
ISSN: 0254-4962 (Print)
eISSN: 1423-033X (Online)
For additional information: https://www.karger.com/PSP
Abstract
The article describes a cultural pattern related to altered states of consciousness, observed amongst new immigrants from Ethiopia to Israel. The belief in possession by Zar spirits is one of the most common possession phenomena in Africa and in other continents. Possession by Zar is expressed by a wide range of behaviors, such as involuntary movements, mutism and incomprehensible language. Such behavior can be misinterpreted as representing symptoms of neuralgic or psychiatric disorders. We demonstrate the Zar phenomenon by a description of a detailed case. The article discusses the cultural and anthropological aspects of the Zar and its clinical implications and suggests that the Zar phenomenon should be understood as a culture-bound syndrome.
© 1997 S. Karger AG, Basel
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Article / Publication Details
Published online: February 10, 2010
Issue release date: 1997
Number of Print Pages: 11
Number of Figures: 0
Number of Tables: 0
ISSN: 0254-4962 (Print)
eISSN: 1423-033X (Online)
For additional information: https://www.karger.com/PSP
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