title: Jinn, psychiatry and contested notions of misfortune among east London Bangladeshis.
abstract: This study examines understandings of misfortune among east London Bangladeshis, particularly with respect to the role of jinn spirits. It reports on the findings of ethnographic interviews among 40 members of this community. Appeal to jinn explanations is commonplace at times of psychological disturbance and unexplained physical symptoms. Resort to traditional healers is frequent. These explanations are contested by different groups in the community. The findings are examined within the context of a discourse on tradition and modernity with particular emphasis on Islam and modernity.
authors.affiliation: University College London, London, UK. s.dein@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dein
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: A David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Napier
mesh_terms: D001459:Bangladesh / Q000208:ethnology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003469:Culture; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D010268:Parapsychology; D011570:Psychiatry; D012069:Religion and Psychology