article
The Kpelle moot: a therapeutic model for the informal settlement of disputes
Africa • 33 • Published In 1963 • Pages: 1-11
By: Gibbs, James L..
Abstract
This document offers a description and analysis of the Kpelle moot 'court', or 'house palaver', as an institution for the informal settlement of disputes between Kpelle. Differing from more formal procedures of conflict resolution, the author argues that 'the genius of the moot lies in the fact that it is based on a covert application of the principles of psychoanalytic theory which underlie psychotherapy' (p.1). The moot is thus 'therapeutic' rather than 'coercive'.
- Subjects
- Informal in-group justice
- Community structure
- Judicial authority
- Functional and adaptational interpretations
- Trial procedure
- Sodalities
- Extended families
- Sex and marital offenses
- Ingroup antagonisms
- Sanctions
- Social control
- culture
- Kpelle
- HRAF PubDate
- 2009
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Western Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- M. A. Marcus ; 1986
- Field Date
- 1957-1958
- Coverage Date
- 1957-1963
- Coverage Place
- Liberia
- Notes
- James L. Gibbs, Jr.
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCN
- 29010790
- LCSH
- Kpelle (African people)