A reappraisal of Teresa of Avila's supposed hysteria
This essay offers a reassessment of Teresa's severe seizures which were such a characteristic feature of her mysticism. The diagnosis of hysteria is no longer viable, at the very least given its abandonment by clinicians. An alternative analysis is developed by phenomenologically comparing Tere...
1. VerfasserIn: | |
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Medienart: | Elektronisch Aufsatz |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Verfügbarkeit prüfen: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Veröffentlicht: |
Springer Science + Business Media B. V.
[1985]
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In: |
Journal of religion and health
Jahr: 1985, Band: 24, Heft: 4, Seiten: 300-315 |
weitere Schlagwörter: | B
Severe Seizure
B Alternative Analysis B Characteristic Feature B High State B Progressive Movement |
Online Zugang: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
Zusammenfassung: | This essay offers a reassessment of Teresa's severe seizures which were such a characteristic feature of her mysticism. The diagnosis of hysteria is no longer viable, at the very least given its abandonment by clinicians. An alternative analysis is developed by phenomenologically comparing Teresa's seizures to parallel experiences of subjects in LSD-assisted psychotherapy. Using Stanislav Grof's categories, it is argued that Teresa's seizures are perinatal symptoms. As such, they represent the emergence and reintegration of extremely primitive psychological systems and might be described as the growing pains of transpersonal consciousness. They reflect not degenerative psychopathology but progressive movement toward higher states of consciousness. |
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ISSN: | 1573-6571 |
Enthält: | Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1007/BF01533012 |