ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with an interesting feature in the psychology of primitive man, namely, his theory about the wider domain of causation; in other words, his ideas concerning occurrences for which no apparent productive agencies are discoverable. In the Siberian shamanism the witchcraft-theory of disease plays an important part, as well as the theory which explains it from direct spiritual influence. Among the shamans there are not only those who practise “white” magic, but also those thought to harm other people by “black” or nefarious magic, carried out in alliance with the evil spirits. The “possession-theory” of disease has not been limited to primitive peoples. The Greeks may be mentioned as a typical example of peoples of ancient civilization who have adhered to it. Writers dealing with the religion of primitive peoples have often touched upon the general belief in spirits and demons as interfering deeply in the practical life of the savage.
