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Henri F. Ellenberger

Ethnopsychiatry

Ethnopsychiatry

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  • More about Ethnopsychiatry

The relationship between culture and mental health is explored in Ethnopsychiatry, which was written by Henri Ellenberger in the late 1960s and introduced by Emmanuel Delille. The book addresses cultural specificity in mental illness, collective psychoses, differentiations within cultural groups, and biocultural interactions. It draws from a vast and varied primary and secondary literature and from Ellenberger's own findings in clinical practice. The book provides a compelling introduction to the foundations of transcultural psychiatry and one of its most distinguished and prolific researchers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 17 December 2020
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press


The relationship between culture and mental health is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been the subject of much research and discussion over the years. In the late 1960s, the psychiatrist Henri Ellenberger wrote a series of articles that explored the role of culture in mental health, which were later published as The Discovery of the Unconscious: The History and Evolution of Dynamic Psychiatry in 1970. Fifty years later, these articles are being presented in English translation for the first time, introduced by historian of science Emmanuel Delille.

Ethnopsychiatry is a field of research that explores the role of culture in mental health, and it is one of the most controversial subjects in psychiatric research. Ellenberger's articles addressed a range of complex clinical and theoretical problems related to cultural specificity in mental illness, collective psychoses, differentiations within cultural groups, and biocultural interactions. He was particularly interested in the correlations between rapid cultural transformations in postwar society, urbanization, and the frequency of mental illness.

Ellenberger drew from a vast and varied primary and secondary literature in several languages, as well as from his own findings in clinical practice, which included work with indigenous peoples. In analyzing Ellenberger's contributions, Delille unveils the transnational and interdisciplinary origins of transcultural psychiatry, which grew out of knowledge networks that crisscrossed the globe.

The book has a rich selection of appendices, including Ellenberger's lecture notes on a case of peyote addiction and his correspondence with anthropologist and psychoanalyst Georges Devereux. These original essays, and their masterful contextualization, provide a compelling introduction to the foundations of transcultural psychiatry and one of its most distinguishe.

One of the key themes that Ellenberger explored in his articles was the idea of cultural relativism, which suggests that the symptoms and expressions of mental illness can vary greatly across different cultural groups. He argued that cultural differences in beliefs, values, and social norms can have a significant impact on how individuals perceive and experience mental illness. For example, in some cultures, mental illness may be seen as a sign of weakness or spiritual possession, while in others, it may be treated as a medical condition that requires medical intervention.

Ellenberger also discussed the concept of collective psychoses, which are disorders that affect large groups of people and are often associated with social and political upheaval. He argued that collective psychoses can arise when individuals are subjected to extreme stress or trauma, and that they can have a profound impact on the mental health of those affected. For example, the collective psychoses that occurred in the aftermath of World War II, such as PTSD and shell shock, were caused by the extreme stress and trauma that soldiers experienced during the war.

Ellenberger also explored the differentiations within cultural groups in terms of mental illness symptoms and expressions. He argued that cultural differences in the way that individuals communicate and express themselves can have a significant impact on how mental illness is diagnosed and treated. For example, in some cultures, individuals may be more likely to express their emotions through nonverbal cues, such as body language, while in others, they may be more likely to express their emotions through verbal communication.

Ellenberger also discussed the biocultural interactions between culture and mental health. He argued that the interactions between biological factors, such as genetics, and cultural factors, such as social norms and beliefs, can have a significant impact on mental health. For example, genetic factors can play a role in the development of mental illness, but cultural factors can also influence how individuals respond to and cope with mental illness.

In conclusion, the relationship between culture and mental health is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been the subject of much research and discussion over the years. Ethnopsychiatry is a field of research that explores the role of culture in mental health, and it is one of the most controversial subjects in psychiatric research. Ellenberger's articles provide a valuable insight into the complex clinical and theoretical problems of cultural specificity in mental illness, collective psychoses, differentiations within cultural groups, and biocultural interactions. By analyzing Ellenberger's contributions, Delille unveils the transnational and interdisciplinary origins of transcultural psychiatry, which grew out of knowledge networks that crisscrossed the globe. The book has a rich selection of appendices that provide a compelling introduction to the foundations of transcultural psychiatry and one of its most distinguishe.

Weight: 548g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228003854

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