Cultural Perspectives on Mental Illness: An Ethnopsychiatric Analysis in Traditional African Societies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13129/2612-4033/0110-4806Abstract
Background: The Western view of mental illness has traditionally been universalistic, neglecting cultural influences. Ethnopsychiatry challenges this, emphasizing how mental illness is shaped by social and cultural contexts.
Methods: This study examines representations of psychological suffering in traditional African societies, focusing on collectivity, spirituality, and family dynamics. Based on interviews with African cultural mediators, it explores local interpretations and management of mental illness, analysed through thematic analysis to compare with Western paradigms.
Results: The study found that interpretation of mental illness is often seen as having spiritual or social origins rather than a medical basis, diverging from the Western medical approach. Key themes include the family's role as a support system and the view of illness as punishment or spiritual imbalance, shaping healing practices through traditional healers and social reintegration.
Conclusions: Integrating ethnopsychiatry into therapy strengthens patient-provider relationships, reduces dropouts, and improves treatment outcomes.
Keywords: Ethnopsychiatry; Mental illness; Culture; Spirituality; Migration; Family
References
Beneduce, R. (2019). Etnopsichiatria: Sofferenza mentale e alterità fra Storia, dominio e cultura. Roma: Carocci.
Bhugra, D., Gupta, S., Bhui, K., Craig, T., Dogra, N., Ingleby, J. D., Kirkbride, J., Moussaoui, D., Nazroo, J., Qureshi, A., Stompe, T., & Tribe, R. (2011). WPA guidance on mental health and mental health care in migrants. World psychiatry, 10(1), 2–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2011.tb00002.x
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Coppo, P. (2003). Tra psiche e culture: Elementi di etnopsichiatria. Torino: Bollati Bollinghieri.
De Martino E. (1973). Il mondo magico. Prolegomeni a uno studio del magismo. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri.
Del Corno, F., Lo Coco, G. (2018). Disegni di ricerca in psicologia clinica: Metodi quantitativi, qualitativi e misti. Milano: Franco Angeli.
Devereux G. (1984). Dall’angoscia al metodo nelle scienze del comportamento. Roma: Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana.
Devereux G. (2007). Saggi di etnopsichiatria generale. Roma: Armando editore.
Lo Coco, G., Lo Verso, G. (2006). La cura relazionale: Disturbo psichico e guarigione nelle terapie di gruppo. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
Lo Mauro, V. & Profita, G. (2017). Misunderstanding Situations in Culture and Cultural Care. World Futures, 73(4-5), 303-317.
Mazzetti M., Tarsitani L., & Geraci S. (2006). The role of migration in post-conflict recovery. In: Mollica RF, Guerra R., Bhasin R. & Lavelle J. (eds). Book of best practices: trauma and the role of mental health in post-conflict recovery. Boston: Harvard Programme in Refugee Trauma.
Nathan, T. (1996). Princìpi di Etnopsicoanalisi. Torino: Bollati Bollinghieri.
Nathan, T. (2001). Nous ne sommes pas seuls au monde: Les enjeux de l’ethnopsychiatrie. Paris: Le Seuil.
Portelli, S. (2009). Antropologia applicata all'intervento psicoterapeutico: L'esperienza del Centre Georges Devereux. Revista d’antropologia i investigació social, 3, 84-98.
Zorzetto, S., Inglese, S. & Cardamone, G. (2016). Accoglienza di popoli in fuga e salute mentale. Proposte per l’Italia. Rivista di Psichiatria e Psicoterapia Culturale, 1, 92-112.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Articles and conference papers published in Journal of Clinical and Development Psychology are distributed under the terms and conditions of a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Correspondingly, authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
