The Behavior of the Dead: Vengeance

• In Event: The Behavior of Pure Sociology: Past and Present

Abstract

Donald Black proposed the existence of "supernatural structures" -- locations and directions in social space where "various gods and spirits are more likely to participate" in human affairs and predicted and explained the behavior of supernatural life with the shape of social space. Supernatural behavior refers to any actions that involve supernatural beings, including contact with humans in the context of prayers and other forms of supplication. Here I address the behavior of one species of supernatural life -- spirits of those who have died. Specifically, I examine supernatural vengeance and address the conditions under which the dead punish the living, and the living punish the dead. In the former, the dead are said to inflict such misfortunes as sickness, death, and disaster upon the living. In the latter, insult and violence are directed toward the dead. Vengeance between the living and dead arises in particular conflict structures such as those with a high degree of immobility, cultural homogeneity, interdependence, and intimacy. It is possible to be more specific, as well. For example, upward offenses by the living -- either against their fellows or against the dead themselves -- attract supernatural vengeance, as do offenses in unconventional and marginal locations. I show the applicability of various formulations to cases across societies and history.

Author

• Roberta Senechal de la Roche, Washington and Lee University