Social aspects of magical and religious into conception of the mental health

Abstract

The two introductory parts of the paper present social-psychological aspects of magical thinking and behavior, as well as religious phenomena, in historical and social-anthropological context and in relation to mental health and mental illness, supported with results of empirical researches. Then the issue of presence of mental disorders in certain religious denominations and sects is analyzed. In conclusion, the author addresses magical and religious aspect in modern psychiatric therapy and psychotherapy, which is universally present today in the overall society and psychiatry, with the unquestionable therapeutic and preventive potentials.

Keywords

• magic
• religion
• psychotherapy
• psychiatric sociology