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@article{1577078,
author = {Xygalatas, Dimitrios and Khan, Sammyh and Lang, Martin and Kundt, Radek and Kundtová Klocová, Eva and Krátký, Jan and Shaver, John Hayward},
article_location = {Chicago},
article_number = {5},
doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/705665},
keywords = {RELIGIOUS ATTENDANCE; SIGNALING THEORY; HEALTH; DEPRESSION; MEDICINE; STRESS; SPIRITUALITY; INDEX; PAIN},
language = {eng},
issn = {0011-3204},
journal = {Current Anthropology},
title = {Effects of Extreme Ritual Practices on Psychophysiological Well-Being},
url = {https://www-journals-uchicago-edu.ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/doi/full/10.1086/705665},
volume = {60},
year = {2019}
}
TY - JOUR
ID - 1577078
AU - Xygalatas, Dimitrios - Khan, Sammyh - Lang, Martin - Kundt, Radek - Kundtová Klocová, Eva - Krátký, Jan - Shaver, John Hayward
PY - 2019
TI - Effects of Extreme Ritual Practices on Psychophysiological Well-Being
JF - Current Anthropology
VL - 60
IS - 5
SP - 699-707
EP - 699-707
PB - University of Chicago
SN - 00113204
KW - RELIGIOUS ATTENDANCE
KW - SIGNALING THEORY
KW - HEALTH
KW - DEPRESSION
KW - MEDICINE
KW - STRESS
KW - SPIRITUALITY
KW - INDEX
KW - PAIN
UR - https://www-journals-uchicago-edu.ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/doi/full/10.1086/705665
L2 - https://www-journals-uchicago-edu.ezproxy.lib.uconn.edu/doi/full/10.1086/705665
N2 - Extreme ritual practices involving pain and suffering pose significant risks such as injury, trauma, or infection. Nonetheless, they are performed by millions of people around the world and are often culturally prescribed remedies for a variety of maladies, and especially those related to mental health. What is the actual impact of these practices on health? Combining ethnographic observations and psychophysiological monitoring, we investigated outcomes of participation in one of the world’s most extreme rituals, involving bodily mutilation and prolonged suffering. Performance of this physically demanding ordeal had no detrimental effects on physiological health and was associated with subjective health improvements, and these improvements were greater for those who engaged in more intense forms of participation. Moreover, individuals who experienced health problems and/or were of low socioeconomic status sought more painful levels of engagement. We suggest two potential mechanisms for these effects: a bottom-up process triggered by neurological responses to pain and a top-down process related to increased social support and self-enhancement. These mechanisms may buffer stress-induced pressures and positively affect quality of life. Our results stress the importance of traditional cultural practices for coping with adversity, especially in contexts where psychiatric or other medical interventions are not widely available.
ER -
XYGALATAS, Dimitrios, Sammyh KHAN, Martin LANG, Radek KUNDT, Eva KUNDTOVÁ KLOCOVÁ, Jan KRÁTKÝ and John Hayward SHAVER. Effects of Extreme Ritual Practices on Psychophysiological Well-Being. \textit{Current Anthropology}. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2019, vol.~60, No~5, p.~699-707. ISSN~0011-3204. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1086/705665.
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