Gerais (Dec 2011)
Reuniões Mediúnicas Espíritas: Explorando Significados e Efeitos para seus Participantes
Abstract
Mediumnic phenomena and communication with spirits play a relevant role in the Brazilian culture, and are presentin several religions. Some works in the field of Psychiatry relate mediumnic phenomena with mental health andinvestigate the spiritist treatment of psychopathologies. Studies in Psychology of Religion point out that religiouspractices result in different effects in the individuals, and highlight the importance of studies to investigate sucheffects. However, in the psychological literature, the effects of mediumnic practices have not been sufficientlyexplored. Given this context, the goal of the present work is to investigate the effects of the participation of giftedpeople in mediumnic meetings within Spiritism. By adopting a qualitative phenomenological method, the meaningsassociated to the mediumnic experience and to the participation in such meetings were explored by means ofinterviews conducted with three mediums, participants in mediumnic practices within Spiritism. The workinvestigates whether these effects help the individuals to adapt and work out in their social context. It contributes tobetter understand this religious phenomenon.
