article

Blood drunkenness and the bloodthirsty Semai: unmaking another anthropological myth

American anthropologist89 (2) • Published In 1987 • Pages: 356-365

By: Robarchek, Clayton Allen.

Abstract
In this source the authors deal with the assertion, found often in the literature on human aggression, that the Semai, despite their peaceful outward appearance, are innately violent. The authors are especially concerned with this problem because the assertion has been based on their own work on the Semai. The authors argue that this assertion is contrary to their observations and is a misrepresentation of their work and of the Semai themselves. The authors discuss the Semai concept of buul bhib (“blood drunkenness”) and point out that this concept has been misunderstood, in part because they had not carefully described it in their previous work.
Subjects
Drives and emotions
Warfare
Ethnoanatomy
culture
Semai
HRAF PubDate
2012
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Southeast Asia
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Gerald Reid; 1989
Field Date
1973-1974
Coverage Date
1950-1980
Coverage Place
Perak and Pahang, Malaysia
Notes
Clayton A. Robarchek
Includes bibliographical references (p. 363-364)
LCCN
17015424
LCSH
Senoi (Southeast Asian people)