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Related Experiment Videos

Running amok.

K Schmidt, L Hill, G Guthrie

    The International Journal of Social Psychiatry
    |January 1, 1977
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    This study analyzed 24 amok cases in Malaysia, finding lower education levels and common psychiatric histories among those affected. Amok behavior often presented with four distinct stages and varied motives.

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    Area of Science:

    • Psychiatry
    • Forensic Psychology
    • Cultural Psychiatry

    Background:

    • Amok, a cultural syndrome characterized by violent, unprovoked outbursts, is examined in this study.
    • This research presents the largest collection of amok cases to date, with 24 instances documented.
    • The study focuses on amok occurrences in Sarawak, East Malaysia, across various indigenous populations.

    Observation:

    • Amok cases were observed across multiple indigenous groups in Sarawak, with frequencies correlating to population proportions.
    • No significant differences in amok occurrence were noted based on religious affiliation (Muslim, Christian, animistic).
    • A slight decrease in amok frequency was observed between 1954 and 1968.

    Findings:

    • Amok runners exhibited significantly lower education levels compared to the general population.

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  • Commonly used weapons were readily available items, including knives, axes, and even vehicles.
  • The study identified the classical four stages of amok: brooding, homicidal paroxysm, continuation, and amnesia.
  • While motives were unclear in some cases, insult, jealousy, and paranoid ideation were prevalent.
  • A significant prevalence of both family and personal psychiatric histories was noted among individuals exhibiting amok behavior.
  • All documented cases aligned with established diagnostic categories, including psychosis and behavioral disorders.

    • Implications:

    • This research contributes to understanding the socio-cultural and psychological factors associated with amok.
    • Findings suggest amok is a complex phenomenon influenced by individual psychopathology and socio-environmental stressors.
    • Further research into the neurobiological and cultural underpinnings of amok is warranted.