title: Supernatural impotence: historical review with anthropological and clinical implications.
abstract: The historical and cultural background of the belief in supernatural impotence is presented, emphasizing its possible implications for clinical practice. A brief historical survey of the concept in Judaism and Christianity is followed by a short anthropological survey of supernatural impotence in different ethnic subcultures in Israel. A case demonstration exemplifies the connection between understanding the patient's cultural background and beliefs and the clinical competence of the therapist. The relationship between the clinical-therapeutic process in psychiatric practice and knowledge of the patient's cultural background and beliefs is stressed.
authors.affiliation: Eitanim Psychiatric Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Margolin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Witztum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002835:Christianity; D003469:Culture; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000208:ethnology; D007557:Israel; D007599:Judaism; D008273:Magic; D008297:Male; D012069:Religion and Psychology