A View on Spiritual Possession (2021)
Keywords: Mental Illness, Spiritual Possession, Psychological Pathology, Exorcism,
Religiosity, Spirituality
A view on Spiritual Possession Through a Psychologically Cultural and Pathological Lens
From a Western point of view, the idea of spiritual possession takes part in countless movies revolving around horror. Particularly, with paranormal events or the spiritual realm coming into contact with humans throughout cinematic history. As a cultural genre, possession in horror movies uses humans' innate fear of losing control, more specifically in the fault of an outside source like a parasite or entity (Boutwell et al., 2021). However, throughout most large religions and cultural beliefs, this idea is not too far fetched from reality. In fact Boutwell et al. (2021) noted that most religious beliefs entail the possibility of human beings losing their free will due to an interference with outside sources. Furthermore, it is common to label an unknown phenomena as the works of a greater force especially if the individual is acting completely out of their ordinary selves. Because some behavior and experiences may include visuals, auditory, and physical stimuli unreached by those around this person, this is where thoughts of dark entities like the devil and unsettling feelings of guilt and worry come into play (Mayer 1911).
Although most research results point towards established psychological diagnosis and
symptoms regarding extreme mental conditions, it is necessary and respectful to acknowledge other deep rooted cultural beliefs to better assess understanding and possible treatments in relation to unseen forces. Most studies indicate the undeniable relationship between spiritual possession and mental disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD (Castro, 2005). Other established disorders include Schizophrenia, which affects 1% of the world population (Irmak, 2014). Even though there may be previous reliable research revolving around psychological disorders, the purpose of this literature review is to view culturally significant beliefs as pathways to help those in need along with families to make them feel heard and hopeful for the unknown structures that are prevalent in any one of our human lives.
Reasoning Behind Human Behaviors
Takes on Uncommon and Undesired Behaviors
With all the conscious human activity happening every second of our time on earth, it is obvious to have many viewpoints and terms to define uncommon and extreme behaviors exhibited by a rare select group of people. Whether it be labeled as a mental illness or spiritual possession, it is undeniably detrimental to the person experiencing such phenomena and to those around them. To include most view points, three categories in terms of lenses are emphasized taking part as a psychological lense as well as a major religions and spiritual beliefs lense.
Psychological Mental Illness Lense
For most, it is easier to fall back on the professionals with a psychology background to understand rare human behavior conditions most often viewed in a negative light. However, with such a high degree of reliability, addressing spiritual or “demonic struggles” can be used to form treatments for psychological disorders with a wide range of approaches (Exline et al., 2021). To get a better understanding from a clinical perspective, a practitioner may test a patient on a variety of scales pertaining to their perception of reality, logic, and history of symptoms involving paranoia and hallucinations (Exline et al., 2021). In their study, Exline et al. (2021), states that in order to destigmatize the belief a patient may have of potential demonic possession, it would be helpful to make sense of the “demonic struggle” from both points of view. Furthermore, it is important to see this real human struggle as the patient sees it. In a clinical setting, a practitioner may view it as the demonic struggle causing psychological distress or vice versa to hold a better understanding of what and how this condition was caused (Exline et al., 2021).
Although psychiatrists that come across people seeking help for spiritual possession may not clearly understand how to go about treating or even thinking about the causes of it, Innamorati et al. (2019) states the potential risks of performing an exorcism on psychotic individuals. The researchers further emphasize on the “primitive psychotherapy technique” which entails having the patient believe that they are capable of defeating whatever evil spirits they may be coming across (Innamorati et al., 2019).
Looking at historic figures such as Freud and Sargant, Ventriglio et al. (2018) restates Freud’s ideas that religious and spiritual beliefs are delusional and are only the cause of a psychological repression in an individual along with Sargant’s take viewing such phenomena as a mind suggestion. Even though these takes on spiritual beliefs from a psychological viewpoint are reasonable, they are not of any use to a community that suffers from such experiences. In their article, Ventriglio et al. (2018) addresses individuals affected by schizophrenia alongside a neurobiological hypothesis stating symptoms of altered perceptions of reality and depersonalization being the cause of a dysfunctional limbic system. In addition, there are current studies leading up to the causes of altering symptoms being trauma related experiences like in post war areas specifically (Ventriglio et al., 2018). Likewise, a study done by Hecker et al. (2016) provided insight into a positive correlation between exposure to violence and the impairment of an individual's functioning specifically relating to posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Lastly, although many studies revolving around abnormal psychological pathology often have a say in the DSM-5, some cases still catch a glimpse of unexplainable phenomena which can make any researcher second guess the true root of rare yet real symptoms. One example of this is in Wu (2020) article on a study conducted by Nakamura Kokyō on Saka, his house maid, who exhibited split personality using hypnosis. According to the findings, Saka would recite lengthy poems and answer with the wrong home address when asked under hypnosis with no recollection after in her normal state of mind (Wu, 2020). Later it was revealed that Saka began experiencing hallucinations and disorganized behavior but these behaviors were then traced to her fathers behavior as she was growing up (Wu, 2020). Although symptoms may seem bizarre and unexplainable, triggers and traumatic memories take a huge role in the human mind and are important to further investigate.
Religious Lense
From a religious point of view, the idea of mental health and spiritual possession seem to intertwine significantly and are making efforts to implement treatments in relation to mental health education of administrators or in this case, exorcists or religious leaders. With the help of the cartholic church, an establishment of hierarchies within the system affects attitudes towards the presence of evil entities such as demons (Innamorati et al., 2019). For example, Innamorati et al. (2019) focuses on the case of Pope John Paul II acknowledging and repeatedly stating the presence of the devil which resulted in real consequences in major countries. Furthermore, the Italian Catholic environment has recently gone through the revival of practicing exorcisms in hope to get rid of dark and evil forces which may be invading an individual's body (Innamorati et al., 2019).
Moreover, for some, religious practices and ways of thinking can have positive as well as negative effects on an individual. Either way they serve of importance from a therapeutic standpoint. In addition, thinking can turn negative when viewing one’s actions as shameful or sinful in regards to religion (Ventriglio et al., 2018). In their research, Ventriglio et al., (2018) found that religious people taking part in faith related activities have a higher possibility of religious hallucinations and delusions. Because religion has the right to perform whatever means necessary to help someone seeking religious guidance, it is useful to know how religious leaders view and treat mental health conditions.
Many religious followers would prefer their faiths and family remedies rather than a clinical setting to attempt to solve an unknown circumstance. For this reason, the majority of Vietnamese Americans lean on Buddhism as a form of mental health care (Nguyen et al., 2012). According to interviews coordinated by Nguyen et al. (2012), Buddhist’s point of view on this subject was mixed between spiritual possession to be real and others to disregard the possibility of the spiritual world even being able to come into contact with the human realm. Interestingly, the study found that the Buddhist’s who did perceive to be of concern regarding mental health were those people who were non responsive to their environment and held an appearance or behavior outside the norm (Nguyen et al., 2012). Additionally, more severe cases of spiritual possession involve individuals phasing between their own and the spirit's personality whether the spirit be a girl or boy (Nguyen et al., 2012). With further analysis on the causes of spiritual possession through Buddhism, these religious leaders come to a conclusion that daily life stressors, mind body imbalances, and karma could all play a role in whether or not a person is spiritually attacked (Nguyen et al., 2012). Even with outside influences, religious leaders do serve to help those in need with mental illnesses.
Spiritual or Supernatural Lense
Viewing the belief of the possibility of an outside force affecting an individual from a spiritual or supernatural lense is valuable to communities around the world and should be taken as such to determine functional therapies for those with troubling life conditions. Through this view point, not only do victims believe they are being tormented by spirits or by others with ill intentions towards them but they also believe to be targets of dark entity attacks (Exline et al., 2021). Therefore, treating such conditions would require the same type of attitude expected for clinically diagnosed psychotic patients towards the individual with spiritual beliefs.
According to Nguyen et al. (2012), spiritual belief interests have been rising, proving that spiritual guidance is valued among individuals to cope with distress and seek support. Similarly, the belief of being possessed is prevalent to this form of guidance given that people believe in witchcraft, karma, and spiritual healing. This belief of being possessed by a spirit is most common in underprivileged people living in rural areas who seek guidance from spiritual or traditional healers to get rid of such spirit (Hecker et al., 2016). According to the interviewed local healers in a study done by Hecker et al. (2016), possession by a spirit was the cause of someone sending it to the patient or an unsolved conflict. All in all, it is observed through this lense that spiritual possession can serve as an “entrance to healing” given that the spirit in possession of an individual will bring whatever traumatic experience or issue to the surface (Hecker et al., 2016). With the help of spiritual and traditional healers, people from low economic stand points can benefit from whichever resource works alongside their beliefs and values to serve their mental health.
Conclusion
The research acquired throughout this paper serves to prove the current application of historic beliefs on abnormal human behavior still seen to this day but in a wider scope of viewpoints. Because most clinical treatments fail to address deep rooted human belief systems that have the potential to affect an individual's behavioral and cognitive functions, the articles summarized above serve to delve deeper into religion, spirituality, and psychological diagnostics lense to get a better understanding of the interrelation between them all.
As most articles mentioned, the intertwining of supernatural and higher entities belief models with clinical psychological base therapies would be of great benefit while treating patients with pathological spiritual possession. With the help of ongoing data within these rare cases of abnormal human behavior, further research would serve to destigmatize these truly unsettling experiences by holding a better understanding of the concrete and reliable reasons behind certain behaviors. Maybe then would these people suffering from such phenomena have a greater chance of recovery and a functional way of living alongside a respectful and helpful community.
References
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Nguyen, H., Yamada, A., & Dinh, T. (2012). Religious leaders’ assessment and attribution of the causes of mental illness: an in-depth exploration of Vietnamese American Buddhist leaders. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 15(5), 511–527.
Ventriglio, A., Bonfitto, I., Ricci, F., Cuoco, F., & Bhavsar, V. (2018). Delusion, possession and religion. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 72(Suppl 1), S13–S15.
Wu, Y. (2020). Seeking double personality: Nakamura Kokyō’s work in abnormal psychology in early 20th‐century Japan. Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 56(4), 258–277.
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