The Mapuche People: Cultural Beliefs Related to Consciousness, Mind, and Body
The Mapuche people are a native group from the extreme south of Latin America. Their culture is based on the interconnectedness between the cohabitants of the environment, including human and non-human categories of life. The closest concept to consciousness for them would be Mapuche
rakizuamor Mapuche thinking, which is defined as a particular kind of reflexivity or state of awareness of the interdependence of people with natural and spiritual entities. This understanding of the human condition represents a relational ontology, which cannot be translated to the predominating
individualistic approach. Although the mind–body distinction is not a central point within Mapuche culture, these dimensions can be explored through crucial processes of the life cycle such as socialization, illness, and death. Contributions from cultural psychology and Indigenous psychology
are taken into account regarding the challenge to address the interplay between culture and the human psyche more appropriately.
Keywords: BODY DISTINCTION; CONSCIOUSNESS; CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY; INDIGENOUS CONCEPTS; MAPUCHE PEOPLE; MIND&NDASH
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Department of Human, Philosophical and Educational Sciences, University of Salerno, Italy 2: Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
Publication date: 01 June 2023
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