title: Possession as role-taking.
abstract: The paper discusses the psychological function of mythical roles in the genesis and maintenance of the possessional experience. The Devil as a personification of the evil provides a "role" which is possible to recognize and even interiorize. Theemotional psychological dynamics interacts with thecognitive content provided by the religious world-view. A case is analyzed and related to prior scientific studies in the field bordering psychopathology and pastoral experience.
authors.affiliation: University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wikström