Lindenbaum 1979: Kuru Sorcery

Research among the Fore by Sherley Lindenbaum in the 1960s in South Fore,

Papua New Guinea

Western viewsFirst: psychosomatic phenomenon, directly associated with the threat of fear of what was believed to be an

attack of sorcery.

Later: Kuru is a slow virus infection spread by the ingestion of human flesh.

Fore views

Kuru is caused by malevolent activities by Fore sorcerers

Kuru means “trembling of fear”

symtpoms:

loss of balance, incoordination, ataxia, slurng of speech, ataxic eye movements, tremor, initial shivering,

involuntarily body movements, then motoric incapacity, death in about 1 year