article

The socio-psychological significance of death among the Pomo Indians

American imago1 • Published In 1940 • Pages: 1-11

By: Aginsky, Bernard W. (Bernard Willard).

Abstract
This article deals with the concept of death among the Pomo, primarily as it manifests itself as the result of the direct or sometimes indirect retaliation either from the supernaturals as a penalty for the violation of a taboo or coming into physical contact with them, or as a result of sorcery worked upon by one's enemies. The author concludes that the great number of anxieties and anxiety producing situations in which the Pomo were involved, were instrumental in inducing psychotic states akin to what we term suicide. This state, unless treated by psycho-magical/medical therapy as practiced by Pomo curing doctors, often led to death of the individual.
Subjects
Drives and emotions
Ethos
Theory of disease
Sorcery
Magical and mental therapy
Shamans and psychotherapists
Life and death
Suicide
Eschatology
Spirits and gods
culture
Pomo
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
North America
Sub Region
Northwest Coast and California
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1960
Field Date
1934-1935
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
northern California , United States
Notes
B. W. Aginsky
Includes bibliographical references
LCCN
a 41002485
LCSH
Pomo Indians