(M9) Filipino Psychology

• Amok

  A person suddenly loses control of himself and goes into a killing frenzy, after they hallucinate and fall into a trance. After they wake up, has absolutely no memory of the event.
• In 1849, amok was officially classified as psychiatric condition as the majority of individuals who committed amok were, in some sense, mentally ill.
• Beramok


  The more common form of amok, associated with depression and sadness resulting from a loss and the subsequent brooding process. Loss includes, but is not limited to, the death of a spouse or loved one, divorce, loss of a job, money, power, etc.
• Amok (rarer form)


  Believed to stem from rage, insult, or a vendetta against a person, society, or object for a wide variety of reasons.
• In contemporary India, the term amuk generally refers not to individual of violence, but to frenzied violence by mobs.
• Juramentado


  The term introduced in 1876 for the behavior (from juramentar - "to take an oath") surviving into modern Filipino languages as huramentado.
• Bangungot


  A relatively common occurrence in which a person suddenly loses control of his respiration and digestion, falls into a coma, and ultimately to death. The person is believed to dream of falling into a deep abyss at the onset of his death.
• This syndrome has been repeatedly linked to Thailand's Brugada.
• Causes of Bangungot


  • Many Filipinos believe ingesting high levels of carbohydrates just before sleeping causes bangungot
  • Victims of bangungot have not been found to have any organic heart diseases or structural heart problems
  • Cardiac activity during SUNDS episodes indicates irregularities in heart rhythm and ventricular fibrillation
• Older Filipinos recommend wiggling the big toe of people experiencing this to encourage their hearts to snap back into normal.
• Dab tsuam


  A malign spirit believed by the Hmong people of Laos to take the form of a jealous woman and cause the deaths associated with bangungot.
• Batibat


  A mythological creature in the Philippines depicted as the cause of bangungot.
• Succubus


  A female demon or supernatural entity in folklore (traced back to medieval legend) that may result in deterioration of health or even death through repeated sexual activity.
• Incubus


  The male counterpart of a succubus.
• Filipino Psychomedicine


  The application of basic psychology to native healing practices loosely considered as 'medicine'.
• Filipino Psychomedicine Practices


  • Hilot - The use of massage to aid a pregnant mother in the delivery of the child
  • Hex or Bewitchment - Also known as barang of Cebuano
  • Lihi - An intense craving for something or someone during pregnancy
  • Pasma - A concept that explains how heat and cold together can result to an illness, especially rheumatism
  • Susto - Soul flight, a condition of being frightened and "chronic somatic suffering stemming from emotional trauma or from witnessing traumatic experiences lived by the others"
  • Pagtatawas - A method of diagnosing illness wherein alum (called tawas) is ritualistically used by the albularyo or medicine man
  • Usog - A concept that explains how a baby who has been greeted by a stranger acquires a mysterious illness
  • Gaba - The Cebuano concept of negative Karma
• In the Philippines, amok also means unreasoning murderous rage of an individual.