| Story
of Bali, Indonesia
THE
issue of emotional expression figured strongly in Bateson
and Mead's conclusions about
Balinese
character.
This is
illustrated
by the conclusions
that Balinese
character
is based
on fear,
that the Balinese
fall asleep
when beset
by fear, become
anxious
when they are disoriented
as to direction
or do not know
the day
or caste
of the person
they are
addressing,
are emotionally
withdrawn,
and withhold
anger. Mead
concluded
that such
patterns
of emotional
expression
are the
product of certain
Balinese child-rearing
patterns. Several
of these issues
have been
discussed in
other chapters
The field of mental health and disorders is directly
concerned with human emotions, both their normal expression
and their manifestations in psychopathology. It is generally
believed that repressed anger which has no outlet causes
psychiatric symptoms, particularly of a somatic type
(Averill,1982). In Bali, anger is suppressed; fights
and arguments in public are rare. However, traditional
trance dances are a dramatic vehicle for expression
of aggression. Anger and other emotions not otherwise
acceptable in everyday life. Abnormal states of trance
with possession in Bali such as bebainan, a culture-
related syndrome
One
way of looking
at these
types of
behavior
is that
they simply
represent
public conventions
as to how,
when, and
where emotions
may be expressed
overtly
or concealed.
However,
this book
argues that
the pattern
of suppression
of emotion
is a function
involving
more than
just custom:
it is partly
a function
of the personality
that controls emotional
responses. Each Balinese learns and develops these
psychological responses,
which become
automatic; they
become durable
parts of the
personality. Psychologically speaking, the behavioral
response pattern becomes internalized. This distinguishes
the pattern from purely conventional behavior or customs
(which are also learned). Following this rationale,
'suppression of emotion' has been identified as a character
trait .
The Balinese have several techniques to control anger
and other emotions. They may avoid direct contact with
the other person by leaving the house if the person
is in the house, or concentrating on hard work if on
the job. Anger can also be handled by invoking the concept
of karma. Anger and anxiety and sadness may be handled
by delayed expression or other processes. The small
child allays anxiety or sadness by closeness to the
mother or caretaker; the adult prays to God to help
him handle the situation or if needed, he goes to a
balian for relief through a purification ceremony or
advice
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