Supernatural Etiology
Definition
This refers to the belief that mental disorders are caused by supernatural forces or entities, such as demons, spirits, or the influence of stars.
Analogy
Think of it like blaming a sudden rainstorm on a dance you did earlier in the day. You're attributing an event (the rainstorm/mental disorder) to something beyond natural physical laws (the dance/supernatural forces).
Related terms
Paranormal: Refers to phenomena that are beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding.
Superstition: A widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event.
Exorcism: The religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person believed to be possessed.
"Supernatural Etiology" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.