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Piblokto (Pibloktoq), sometimes referred to as arctic hysteria, is a culture bound disorder among the Inuits and is "characterized by attacks of disturbed behavior (as screaming and crying) and that occurs chiefly in winter". [1]
Piblokto was first discovered by early explorers of the Artic. It's symptoms have been linked to excessive amounts of Vitamin A and extreme weather related conditions. There is debate over whether or not this is a real psychiatric disorder or if explorers made up the idea for some unknown reason. [2]
Piblokto is a hysteria caused by a " catch all ruburic under which explorers lumped various Inuhuit anxiety reactions expressions of resistance to patriarchy or sexual coercion and shamanistic practice." [3]
Origins[edit]
Piblotok has its origins within the Inuhuit population of Greenland and more recent cases within Canada and northern United States. The illness has been criticized as not being a real illness since its discovery. It has links to psychological, dietary, and environmental deficits. [4] Malnutrition has been linked to many side effects incuding the prevailent hysterical attacks assoicated with Piblokto. [5] Disorders tend to be culture specific and have defining features within a cultural context. In cases of Piblokto, hysteria and the mimicking of animal sounds is prevalient amoung Inuits. [6]
Symptoms & Theoretical Applications[edit]
Symptoms include loss of consciousness, amnesia, mimetic acts, coprophagia, unintelligble muttering, and running naked through the snow. Superhuman feats may also be attempted. Physical symptoms may include fever, elevated pulse, and tremors. Victims of these attacks are left weak and tend to sleep for long periods of time.[7]
The disorder is most commonly found among adult Inuit women. The disorder was once interpreted in "Freudian fashion" to mean outbreaks due to feeling unappreciated, which was reinforced by the number of reported cases of Piblokto among women. No cases have been reported among children, although there does seem to be similar symptoms found among sled dogs.
Eskimos do not see these symptoms as out of the ordinary and look harshly upon those whose choose to partake in watching someone presented with these symptoms.
Two possible theories arise in exlpaining this erractic behavior: psychological and biological. The psychological perspective is best upon the Western ideology of "hysteria" and focuses on psychoanalytical and psycho-social schools of thought. The biological perspective believes symtpoms of Piblokto can be traced to physiological occurences. [8]
Similar Disorders[edit]
Sleep paralysis has links to hysterical disorders including Piblokto. Symptoms include the inability to move right before falling asleep. Several reseachers link the hysterical nightmares that can occur as a link to the hysterical behavior that can occur while conscious. "Kayak angst" is another disorder specific to Eskimos. All of these disorders seem to deal with an understanding or connection with a spirit world. [9]
See Also[edit]
Boese, Alex (2008). Piblokto. Accessed April 11, 2011 from Weird Universe. [8]
Jstor:Arctic Anthropology, Vol.32/ no 2,1995:" Pibloktoq: Arctic Hysteria ; A Construction of European-Intuit relations? '. Jstor online; [9]
REFERENCES
- ^ "Piblokto" Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 2011. Merriam-Webster Online. 16 March 2011. [1]
- ^ Smith, S. E. Piblokto. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-piblokto.htm
- ^ Simons, R. C., Hughes, C. C. The culture-bound syndromes: folk illnesses of psychiatric and anthropological interest. D. Reidel Publishing Company, (1985), Holland. p. 275, 289.
- ^ Dick, Lyle. Arctic Anthropology. Vol. 32, N. 2, 1995. [2]
- ^ Taylor, S., Shelor, N., Abdelnour, M. Nutritional Ecology, A New Perspective. [3]
- ^ Leighton, A., Hughes, J. Cultures as a Causative of Mental Disorder. [4]
- ^ 10 Unique Mental Disorders. That Thin Line. [5]
- ^ Lister, J. Two Perspectives on the Etiology of Pibloktoq. [6]
- ^ Bloom, J., Gelardin, R. Eskimo Sleep Paralysis. [7]