Bewitched and Bedevilled: A Cognitive Approach to Embodiment in Early English Possession (2015)
A cognitive science study of early English possession narratives.
This volume bridges the gap between literary history and neurophysiology by examining how early modern individuals experienced and described states of being possessed. Uszkalo draws on recent research regarding the neurocognitive aspects of emotion, specifically focusing on anger and rage. The text analyzes published pamphlets from the period to understand the social and medical contexts of these events. It offers a transdisciplinary approach that enriches both historical scholarship and neuroscience by showing how cognitive frameworks can explain historical accounts of exorcism and possession.
The work focuses on early modern Europe, specifically England during the sixteenth century. It examines medical and philosophical treatises from this period to understand how religious and social structures influenced the perception of demonology and popular magic in historical contexts.
Praise for this book
“Bewitched and Bedeviled makes a major contribution to our understanding of possession in early modern Europe and in general. It develops an original interpretation based on a well-grounded synthesis of recent work on the neurocognitive aspects of emotion, anger, and rage in particular, and extensive use of published pamphlets describing possession cases from the time.”
“Uszkalo's brilliant synthesis represents an all too rare transdisciplinary approach between cognitive neuroscience and social history. Both fields will be richer for it.”
📝 Description: Bewitched and Bedevilled: A Cognitive Approach to Embodiment in Early English Possession (2015)
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Scholars and students of early modern history will find this text invaluable for its innovative application of cognitive science to historical phenomena. Uszkalo offers a rigorous, intellectual framework that transforms chilling accounts of demonic possession into understandable episodes of social and psychological dynamics. It is essential for those seeking to move beyond binary interpretations of good versus evil, instead exploring how communal beliefs and medical understandings shaped the lived experience of the 'bewitched.' This book provides a sophisticated lens for analyzing the intersection of religion, culture, and the human mind during a period defined by dramatic spiritual conflict.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Uszkalo presents a dense, academic exploration that demands patience and intellectual engagement from its audience. While the cognitive approach offers fresh insights into early English possession, the text is strictly scholarly and lacks narrative flair or accessibility for casual readers. It will not suit those seeking entertaining ghost stories, simple historical chronicles, or practical occult guidance. Readers looking for light reading or definitive theological answers may find the psychological deconstruction unsatisfying. However, for academics and serious researchers interested in the mechanics of belief and embodiment, it stands as a significant, albeit demanding, contribution to the field.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you're fascinated by the intersection of history, psychology, and the occult, and seek a rigorous, academic exploration of supernatural phenomena, this book is for you. It offers a fresh, analytical framework for understanding the profound impact of possession beliefs on individuals and society.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Cognitive Science & Possession
This book explores how contemporary cognitive theories can shed new light on historical possession narratives. It examines the mental frameworks and neurological processes that might have underpinned these experiences, offering a fresh perspective on what was once solely attributed to supernatural or theological forces, bridging past beliefs with modern understanding.
Stages of Bewitchment
The text meticulously dissects the chronological progression of possession, from the onset of peculiar behaviors and utterances to the dramatic rituals of exorcism. It analyzes how each phase was understood and managed within the social and religious contexts of early modern England, highlighting the interactive nature of the phenomenon between the possessed and their community.
Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Uszkalo masterfully synthesizes insights from literary criticism, historical archives, medical treatises, and religious texts. By bridging these diverse fields, the study paints a comprehensive picture of how early English society grappled with manifestations of the demonic, revealing the complex interplay of faith, medicine, and communal belief systems.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Possession Narrative
- Cognitive Approach
- Exorcism
📔 Questions to reflect on
- How might modern psychological disorders have been interpreted as demonic possession in early English society, and what does this reveal about cultural understanding of mental states?
- Consider a contemporary belief system or phenomenon often attributed to supernatural causes. How could a 'cognitive approach' illuminate its social and individual impact without dismissing personal experience?
- Reflect on the role of community, authority figures (medical, religious), and narrative in shaping an individual's experience of extreme mental or physical states, both historically and today.
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