article
Latah in Java: a theoretical paradox
Indonesia • 5 • Published In 1968 • Pages: 93-104
By: Geertz, Hildred.
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This source presents data on the social and cultural context of latah in Java. Latah is a psychological disturbance which includes "involuntary blurting of obscene words and phrases, compulsive imitation of the words or actions of others, and compulsive unquestioning obedience when ordered to perform actions which may be ridiculous, improper, or even dangerous" (pp. 93-94). The author concludes that "If it were not for the presence of latah elsewhere in the world, one would be tempted to conclude that the reason for its occurrence in Java is self-evident, that its congruence with Javanese culture sufficiently accounts for its appearance there" (p. 104).
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Personality disorders
- Norms
- Ethnopsychology
- Theoretical orientation in research and its results
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Javanese
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2010
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Asia
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Southeast Asia
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Marlene Martin ; Jan Simpson ; 1982
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- 1952-1954
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 1952-1954
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- Java, Indonesia
- NotesAdditional notes
- Hildred Geertz
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 98646425
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Javanese (Indonesian people)