[Stoma--a taboo turning into a topic].
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Germany↗
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Results for “TABOO”
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[End of a taboo: migraine is a very specific disorder].
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France↗
Does emotion help or hinder immediate memory? Arousal versus priority-binding mechanisms.
People recall taboo words better than neutral words in many experimental contexts. The present rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) experiments demonstrated this taboo-superiority effect for immediate recall of mixed lists containing taboo and neutral words matched for familiarity, length, and category coherence. Under binding theory (MacKay et al., 2004), taboo superiority reflects an interference effect: Because the emotional reaction system prioritizes binding mechanisms for linking the source of an emotion to its context, taboo words capture the mechanisms for encoding list context in mixed lists, impairing the encoding of adjacent neutral words when RSVP rates are sufficiently rapid. However, for pure or unmixed lists, binding theory predicted no better recall of taboo-only than of neutral-only lists at fast or slow rates. Present results supported this prediction, suggesting that taboo superiority in immediate recall reflects context-specific binding processes, rather than context-free arousal effects, or emotion-linked differences in rehearsal, processing time, output interference, time-based decay, or guessing biases.
Adult↗
Women's strategies to alleviate nutritional stress in a rural African society.
Many agricultural populations are subject to chronic or seasonal undernutrition, reproductive women and children often being most vulnerable. This paper presents quantitative and qualitative data on food consumption, food distribution practices, food taboos, garden sizes and work effort to show how Lese horticulturalist women living in the Ituri Forest of northeast Democratic Republic of Congo attempt to alleviate nutritional stress. The Lese experience an annual hunger season when approximately one quarter of the population suffer from energy deficiency. Nutritional intake is also compromised by a complex system of food taboos against meat from wild forest animals. Anthropometric data collected over several years suggest that Lese women suffer from nutritional stress more than men during the hunger season. They also have more food taboos particularly during pregnancy and lactation. Their low fertility is compounded by nutritional stress. Despite these inequities, Lese women use several strategies to improve their food intake. Since they are responsible for all household cooking, they manipulate food portions. During the hunger season, they snack frequently, and increase their consumption of palliative foods. Women with more food taboos plant larger gardens to supplement their diet with vegetable foods. Although this results in their consumption of more daily protein, they work harder compared to women with smaller gardens. Women cheat in their adherence to specific food taboos by actively discounting them, or by eating prophylactic plants that supposedly prevent the consequences (usually illness) of eating tabooed foods. In addition, women resort to subterfuge to access desirable resources. Lese women do not reduce work effort during the hunger season, but adapt physiologically by reducing resting metabolic rates during periods of weight loss. These results point to the ability of Lese women to minimize the ecological and cultural constraints on their nutrition. More data, however, are required to assess the long-term effectiveness of these strategies.
Adult↗
Incest: the psychological problem and the biological contradiction.
We have yet to map an "inbreeding avoider" gene or design a psychological test that can accurately diagnose incest transgressors. Until those events occur, sociobiology, nursing, and psychology must explain phenomena, such as the incest taboo, with a theoretical language of supposition. It is in this light that the etiology of taboo is analyzed. This article proposes that a propensity for sexual selection originates in the gene system, and what becomes taboo is acquired through the learning that accompanies the experiences of the individual and culture when sexual selection occurs. Influences of the genetic system and psychological culture on the existence of a taboo are contrasted. The conclusion posits an eclectic taboo hypothesis, derived from the congruencies found in the literature, and suggests how this hypothesis can guide nursing interventions with incestual families.
Adult↗
Breast feeding, birth interval and polygyny in Nigeria.
Polygyny has routinely been claimed to facilitate rules and taboos relating to postpartum sexual abstinence. However, in Nigeria polygyny cannot wholly explain length of postpartum taboo following child birth on the ground that competition among cowives to out do one another in child-bearing results in a tendency of higher fertility and hence shorter postpartum taboo in polygynous households than that in monogamous families. Economic factors have been adduced as reasons explaining the recent tendency for mothers in polygynous families to have longer postpartum abstinence than their counterparts in monogamous households. Specifically, for young mothers aged 15-34, bearing children in quick succession is no longer attractive as in essentially traditional cultures where husband's commitment to caring for children is taken for granted. Hence, the tendency for women in polygynous households to adhere more strictly to rules and taboos relating to postpartum abstinence could be associated to the changing roles of women as they affect their responsibility with respect to the maintenance and training of their children rather than to the institution of polygyny per se.
Adolescent↗
Relations between emotion, illusory word perception, and orthographic repetition blindness: tests of binding theory.
This study reports effects of meaning and emotion (taboo vs. neutral words) on an illusory word (IW) phenomenon linked to orthographic repetition blindness (RB). Participants immediately recalled rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) lists consisting of two critical words (C1 and C2) containing shared letters, followed by a word fragment: for example, lake (C1) brake (C2) ush (fragment). For neutral critical words, participants often recalled C1, but not C2 or the fragment, reporting instead a nonoccurring or illusory word: here, brush (a blend of C2 and the fragment). Forward RB (defined as reduced report of orthographically similar C2s) was more common for neutral than for taboo C2s, and taboo IWs were reported significantly more often than were neutral IWs. Moreover, when both C2 and the potential IW were taboo, a new phenomenon emerged: Participants reliably reported both the IW and the intact C2. These and other results supported a binding theory of the IW phenomenon and orthographic RB.
Adolescent↗
The influence of autonomic arousal and semantic relatedness on memory for emotional words.
Increased memory for emotional stimuli is a well-documented phenomenon. Emotional arousal during the encoding of a stimulus is one mediator of this memory enhancement. Other variables such as semantic relatedness also play a role in the enhanced memory for emotional stimuli, especially for verbal stimuli. Research has not addressed the contributions of emotional arousal, indexed by self-report and autonomic measures, and semantic relatedness on memory performance. Twenty young adults (10 women) were presented neutral-unrelated words, school-related words, moderately arousing emotional words, and highly arousing taboo words while heart rate and skin conductance were measured. Memory was tested with free recall and recognition tests. Results showed that taboo words, which were both semantically related and high arousal were remembered best. School-related words, which were high on semantic relatedness but low on arousal, were remembered better than the moderately arousing emotional words and semantically unrelated neutral words. Psychophysiological responses showed that within the moderately arousing emotional and neutral word groups, those words eliciting greater autonomic activity were better remembered than words that did not elicit such activity. These results demonstrate additive effects of semantic relatedness and emotional arousal on memory. Relatedness confers an advantage to memory (as in the school-words), but the combination of relatedness and arousal (as in the taboo words) results in the best memory performance.
Adolescent↗
Socio-cultural aspects of menstruation in an urban slum in Delhi, India.
This paper attempts to understand the experience of menstruation in the socio-cultural context of an urban Indian slum. Observations were gathered as part of a larger study of reproductive tract infections in women in Delhi, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative phase consisted of 52 in-depth interviews, three focus groups discussions and five key informant interviews. In the quantitative phase inferences were drawn from 380 respondents. Mean age at menarche was 13.5. Onset of menarche is associated with physical maturity and the ability to marry and reproduce. However, a culture of silence surrounds menarche, an event which took the women interviewed almost by surprise. Most were previously unaware that it would happen and the information they were given was sparse. Menstruation is associated with taboos and restrictions on work, sex, food and bathing, but the taboos observed by most of the women were avoidance of sex and not participating in religious practices; the taboo on not going into the kitchen, which had been observed in rural joint households, was not being observed after migration from rural areas due to lack of social support mechanisms. There is a clear need to provide information to young women on these subjects in ways that are acceptable to their parents, schools and the larger community, and that allow them to raise their own concerns. Education on these subjects should be envisaged as a long-term, continuous process, beginning well before menarche and continuing long after it.
Adolescent↗
[From empirical 'dietetics' to rational dietetics].
From the outset, the terms 'dietetics' and 'diet' applied in their general acceptance to all the measures, whether or not alimentary, that can provide optimal living conditions for both the healthy and the diseased. In that meaning they are synonymous with hygiene or way of life. In their more restricted acceptance, which will be used henceforth, the terms apply to the choice of food and beverages which promotes or restores health of normal and sick people. In its most restricted meaning, the term 'diet' is confined to the nutrition of the sick, consisting either in a more or less drastic limitation of food intake, or in the prescription of specific foods. Due to the absence of scientific knowledge concerning the processes of life in general, and in particular concerning the physiology of the digestive system and the metabolism, the 'dietetic' rules and principles were governed until the middle of the nineteenth century by empiricism with a strong background of intuition, tradition, magic and religion. In his continuous struggle for life, man has been confronted with the dramatic consequences of the ingestion of toxic and spoiled food. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps and eventually death have soon been linked with the ingestion of particular food, although the symptoms were attributed to supernatural forces. Intuitively and later by laws and prohibition, the use of certain foods was to be avoided or was forbidden. Moreover, with the development of cultures and civilizations food and food intake have acquired -besides their vital necessity-social and often magic-religious values which sometimes resulted in food taboos. In most civilizations these taboos have particulars in common: they are mainly directed against food of animal origin, more against meat than fish and particularly against red meat, which is being considered as symbol of strength and power and as endowed with exciting and stimulatory properties. The meat taboos are selective for some animals or parts of an animal, but what is allowed in some cultures is forbidden in others. More or less severe and long lasting abstinence from food or fasting was also self-inflicted or imposed to individuals or whole populations by religion, sometimes seemingly on hygienic grounds but in most cases without any logic reason. Since the earliest time, diets take-together with other dietetic measures-a prevailing place in the treatment of the sick and sickness. Most alimentary prescriptions are based on a more or less drastic restriction of food and - particularly in the seventeenth century with the iatrochemical school - also of fluids. The restrictions were not only quantitative, but also qualitative with restriction of meat consumption-particularly of red meat-and the prescription of more or less diluted decoctions of barley (infusions) or broth. The numerous works on 'dietetics' published-thanks to the development of printing-from the seventeenth on through the nineteenth century concern mainly the description of foodstuffs and beverages available at the time, and of the ways of preparing them. They also provide indications concerning the way these foodstuffs can improve health and/or list which of them can be prescribed or must be avoided in the treatment of the sick and of specific diseases. Some of these 'dietetical' prescriptions and maxims seem perfectly valid from a scientific and therapeutical point of view, - at least according to our actual knowledge - however, many are totally ineffective or are ridiculous and even dangerous. Except for the "dietetical" measures imposed by public hygiene or by religion to everyone, most of the dieteticotherapeutical prescriptions (food restrictions, clysters, purgation, bleeding) involved only the small fraction of the population that could afford medical assistance. The common people - the majority - could afford neither medical help, nor food abuse - except for an occasional feast - and had only access to a limited quantity and choi
Diet↗
On rejecting emotional lures created by phonological neighborhood activation.
The authors conducted 2 experiments to assess how phonologically related lures are rejected in a false memory paradigm. Some phonological lures were emotional (i.e., taboo) words, and others were not. The authors manipulated the presence of taboo items on the study list and reduced the ability to use controlled rejection strategies by dividing attention and forcing a short response deadline. The results converge on the idea that participants reduce false alarms to emotional lures by setting more stringent recognition criteria for these items based on their expected memorability. Additionally, emotional lures are less familiar than nonemotional lures because emotional lures have affective and semantic features that mismatch studied nonemotional items.
Association Learning↗
[Perception of the first menstruation].
598 adult women of 15 to 49 years of age and 214 young girls (aged 12 to 18) were included in the Berlin study of menstrual attitudes and behaviour. The methodical procedure relating to the evolving of the questionnaire and the concept of the study are described, followed by informative special aspects of the findings. This contribution focuses on the way in which women cope with menarche in relation to their experiences in other fields of intimacy and taboo, as well as on sex education. practiced sexuality, contraception, and later attitudes towards menstruation. Individual differences of attitudes and differences among generations are causes of women's different reactions to the monthly period. We define three different types of menstrual behaviour relevant to clinical practice and describe differently successful ways of coping with and mastering menstruation. We discuss indications, concepts and the extent of gynaecological advice and counselling required for young women as far as this particular part of female intimacy is concerned, which is still taboo in some respects. Suggestions based on medical psychology are given to stimulate gynaecological practice.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Learning the meaning of care: a case study in a geriatric home in Upper Egypt.
Geriatric care is a new phenomenon in Egypt. This study investigates how Egyptian caregivers experience their work and how they conceive its meaning. A qualitative case study in a geriatric home in Upper Egypt was conducted using structured interviews with 10 staff members and content analysis according to Mayring. Performing care required learning to overcome initial experiences of fear, disgust, and sexual taboo. Care was perceived as a laborious repetition. Its ideal form was described as a reaction to a demand combined with kind patience and a family-like relationship. Christian and female values allowed coping with experienced problems and alleviated conflicts between traditional gender roles and care of male residents. Traditional values helped to adapt to the requirements of providing care. Sexual taboos may reduce willingness to provide care, but traditional values may encourage caregivers.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Playing doctor, seriously: graduation follies at an American medical school.
In American medical schools, the period of time between the announcement of internships and graduation is known as FYBIGMI, for "Fuck You Brother I Got My Internship." At University Medical School (pseudonym), as at most American medical schools, this period culminates in an elaborate musical comedy (attended by faculty and relatives) in which faculty are abused, patients are represented in terms of stigmatized stereotypes, and the students demonstrate a profane familiarity with cultural taboos. Using the analytic methods of cultural anthropology, this examination of the FYBIGMI performance at U.M.S. focuses primarily on the seniors' presentation of their newly acquired professional identity, which is constituted in the skits by recurring oppositions to socially stigmatized, medically self-destructive patients. In this oppositional logic, racial stereotypes play a particularly large role. In addition, the seniors establish their new social status by inverting their relationship to their (former) supervisors on a personal basis, and by confronting the audience with their professional ability to treat cultural taboos with profane familiarity. The FYBIGMI theatrical, and its representation of professional identity, is analyzed in relation to a proposed model of the underlying structure of the process of medical education, that is, an escalating dialectic of intimidation and self-congratulation.
Black or African American↗
[Traditional enema for newborns and infants in Bobo Dioulasso: health practice or socialisation].
Kanki demonstrated a high prevalence and frequency of enema practised with newborns in the South-West of Burkina Faso. Little is known about the risks on children's health possibly associated with this practice and about its impact on other treatments in paediatrics. In this study, the authors describe daily administered enema (DAE) and analyse local conceptual frameworks underlying this practice through in-depth-interviews and focus group discussions with 30 mothers, 5 traditional healers and 5 health agents. Various medications are used to compose the liquid introduced by the mothers in the child's anus. Many of these substances are prone to irritate intestinal mucus, others are simply toxic. Practically, enema aims at curing or preventing a variety of diseases caused by an accumulation of impurities (nògò) in the intestines due to the consumption of inappropriate food. With newborns, diseases are transmitted by mothers through breastfeeding after eating food which is too sweet or too fat. In addition to provoking diseases, the nògò also "block" the child's physical and psychic development during his/her first year of life. Therefore, as soon as the child has excreted for the first time, most mothers give enema daily both to protect their children from diseases and to speed their development. In fact, beside prophylaxy and therapy lies a "didactic" function of enema as a medication used to help the child to stand up, to get teeth..., to gain independence from his/her mother. DAE therefore plays an important role in the process of acquiring bio-social aptitudes, i.e., important educational virtues to achieve a successful first step in the socialisation process. Exploring more deeply local perceptions explaining the origin of the n g , the authors found an interesting relationship with religious taboos. Beside prohibited food, the n g are also due to transgression of various taboos surrounding birth and breastfeeding and even suggest a religious, rather than hygienic, explanation for the food prohibited. DAE ultimately consists in re-adjusting the child and his mother according to moral and cultural rules, avoiding the negative consequences of transgression. Consistently, DAE also facilitates the process of acquiring bio-social aptitudes for the child and therefore help him to enter his/her family as a fully accepted member. Moreover, religious prohibitions surrounding birth end as soon as the child is able to eat solid food and free him/herself. Therefore, DAE also helps the parents to get back to their normal life conditions. In conclusion, in addition to prophylactic and therapeutic explanations, the DAE participates in a general process of socialisation of newborns. To a certain extent, the child's health depends on the respect of the social and religious system and rules. The study reveals the important conceptual gap that may exist between two different logical frameworks--biomedical and popular--prone to explain health risk for newborns. The authors then reflect on the possible impact of health education programmes seeking to intervene at the hygienic level and ultimately facing an important set of cultural values aiming at keeping the social and cultural organisation coherent.
Age Factors↗
Views on sexuality in croatian medieval sources.
We analyzed attitudes towards sexuality during the medieval period in Croatia. For that purpose we investigated numerous medical and literary texts, statutes, and specific natural philosophical work entitled "Lucidar". Contrary to medical books, which had a low impact on the broader community, literary texts were important in spreading messages on sexuality, as well as in shaping medieval mentality and creating sexual taboos. Consequently, a specific perspective and culture influenced rules and practices for community protection, as well as various levels of social systems. Within the three large groups of sources, we selected those typical both in their content (ideas) and forms, and representative in shaping attitudes toward sexuality on our territory. The first group of sources (examples from literary genres) were identified as an important vehicle in transferring messages of morality, moral obligation and sexuality in general. Deeply rooted in Christianity they became a pattern according to which the way of life and value were measured, a specific view toward sexuality was shaped, and notions of stigma and taboo articulated.
Attitude↗
Traces of cannibalistic instinct in food denomination.
Drawing attention to the associations evoked in the process of food denomination, the paper attempts to reveal the traces of cannibalistic instinct in this realm. By singling out some of the principal ways used in the semantic reticulum to name food, special attention is devoted to those names that allude to particular categories of enemies (devoured as wholes or as parts of the body). What is referred to as "anti-taboo" shows how the linguistic and more generally the anthropological 'substitution process' is a human reaction to the persistence of the cannibalistic taboo in the face of the belief that cannibalism is an impulse far removed from modern society. Finally it is noted that cannibalistic metaphors have been analysed in other fields, whereas in the area of food denomination they have been neglected. The suggestion is that the reason for such neglect may lie in an attempt to conceal our closeness to the cannibalistic instinct in the form of linguistic substitution.
Anthropology, Cultural↗
Historical notes on botulism, Clostridium botulinum, botulinum toxin, and the idea of the therapeutic use of the toxin.
Food-borne botulism probably has accompanied mankind since its beginning. However, we have only few historical sources and documents on food poisoning before the 19th century. Some ancient dietary laws and taboos may reflect some knowledge about the life-threatening consumption of poisoned food. One example of such a dietary taboo is the 10th century edict of Emperor Leo VI of Byzantium in which manufacturing of blood sausages was forbidden. Some ancient case reports on intoxications with Atropa belladonna probably described patients with food-borne botulism, because the combination of dilated pupils and fatal muscle paralysis cannot be attributed to an atropine intoxication. At the end of the 18th century, some well-documented outbreaks of "sausage poisoning" in Southern Germany, especially in Württemberg, prompted early systematic botulinum toxin research. The German poet and district medical officer Justinus Kerner (1786-1862) published the first accurate and complete descriptions of the symptoms of food-borne botulism between 1817 and 1822. Kerner did not succeed in defining the suspected "biological poison" which he called "sausage poison" or "fatty poison." However, he developed the idea of a possible therapeutic use of the toxin. Eighty years after Kerner's work, in 1895, a botulism outbreak after a funeral dinner with smoked ham in the small Belgian village of Ellezelles led to the discovery of the pathogen Clostridium botulinum by Emile Pierre van Ermengem, Professor of bacteriology at the University of Ghent. The bacterium was so called because of its pathological association with the sausages (Latin word for sausage = "botulus") and not-as it was suggested-because of its shape. Modern botulinum toxin treatment was pioneered by Alan B. Scott and Edward J. Schantz.
Animals↗