article

Psychic stress in a Tongan village

Pacific Science Congress of the Pacific Science Association, 6th • 4 • Published In 1940 • Pages: 43-52

By: Beaglehole, Ernest.

Abstract

This source presents case material, description and analysis, on the dreams of ten Tongans in order to show the 'value of the study of psychic stress in a primitive community' (p. 51). Nine of the ten cases concern dreams and their indication of various forms of stress. The tenth concerns a psychotic patient and the relation between the religious symbolism of her dreams and ravings and the influence of religion in Tonga. Beaglehole indicates that Tongans take religion very seriously and the intensity of their feelings is frequently as aspect of mental illness.

HRAF PubDate

2006

Region

Oceania

Sub Region

Polynesia

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Martin J. Malone; 1978

Field Date

December 1938 - February 1939

Coverage Date

1938-1939

Coverage Place

Pangai, Vava'u, Tonga

Notes

Ernest Beaglehole

Includes bibliographical references

LCSH

Tongans