Religion, Altered States of Consciousness and Social Change

The particular intervening variable suggested here as having greater explanatory value for the possession trance phenomenon is a rigid social structure. The hypothesis is offered that in a rigid society, that is, one where the social structures deny the individual freedom for achievement and personal control over his daily life activities, possession trance is likely to be widespread. (...) under rigid systems, simple decision-making is fraught with danger from internal and external social controls. Possession trance relieves the individual of personal responsibility in the decision-making process by temporarily changing the identity of a human being into that of a spirit. The medium through whom the spirit speaks, and the petitioner, following the spirit's dictates, can thus solve the problem of meeting crucial daily life decisions without either intruding personally into the established order of things.

(...) rigid social structures and possession trance are more likely to be found among societies with fixed status distinctions. (...) The exceptions would result from the existence of societies with fixed social status distinctions that have a flexible social structure, permitting considerable personal control over daily life situations and personal achievement. On these groups no need for possession trance exists, since individuals can take personal responsibility for decision-making.

(...) Institutional roles, such as that of the spirit medium may give people ample opportunity to redress their social balance. (...) the diviner-witchcraft complex is a highly versatile mechanism for the manipulation of social forces in accordance with the wishes of the decision-makers of the group hidden by a supernatural smoke screen.

(...) mediums work through the change of identity mechanisms of possession trance (...) unpredictable guidance from these spirit-inspired people is an important force for change since they can suggest reforms with no fear of disbelief or resentment on the part of the people at large. (...) The function of dissociation, or 'possession' in priestly duties is to endow the priests' utterances with authority and to exonerate him from personal responsibility for them.

(...) ritualized dissociation provides the self with an alternate set of roles, in addition to his everyday inventory of roles, in which unfulfilled desires, "unrealistic" in the context of the workaday world, get a second chance at fulfillment.