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The Social Psychology of 'Epidemic' Koro

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  • Robert E. Bartholomew

    (The Flinders University of South Australia)

Abstract

The few isolated reports of individual koro exhibit a symptomatology indicative of major psychiatric conditions (ie. psychosis or affective disorder), and appear unrelated to collective episodes which involve social, cultural, cognitive and physiological factors in the diffusion of koro-related beliefs. Yet, koro 'epidemics' continue to be viewed as exemplifying mass psychopathology or irrationality. An examination of the similarities between koro 'outbreaks' and a sub-category of behaviour which has been loosely labeled as 'mass hysteria', suggests an alternative, non-psychopathological explanation. In reclassifying 'epidemic' koro as a collective misperception rather than a culture-bound syndrome, it is argued that koro is a rational attempt at problem-solving which involves conformity dynamics, perceptual fallibility and the local acceptance of koro-associated folk realities, which are capable of explaining such episodes as normal within any given population.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert E. Bartholomew, 1994. "The Social Psychology of 'Epidemic' Koro," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 40(1), pages 46-60, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:40:y:1994:i:1:p:46-60
    DOI: 10.1177/002076409404000105
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    Cited by:

    1. Arabinda N. Chowdhury, 1998. "Hundred Years of Koro the History of a Culture-Bound Syndrome," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 44(3), pages 181-188, September.

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