Davis P W, Boles J, Tatro C
Soc Sci Med. 1984;19(7):691-8. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(84)90241-7.
This paper provides a dramaturgical analysis of the beliefs and practices of rural and suburban fortune-tellers in the treatment of disease and dysfunction entities. Based upon in-depth interviews with 21 non-Gypsy fortune-tellers, the client records of a key informant and the second author's first-hand familiarity with select aspects of fortune-telling, the paper examines the role of the fortune-teller as a quasi-practitioner. Fortune-tellers were found to employ five dramaturgical devices which (1) reaffirm conventional treatment norms through an informal symbiotic relationship with physicians; (2) provide the 'client' with destigmatizing classifications; and (3) offer an occult etiology which requires spiritual expertise for treatment 'success'. Occult treatment for the conditions tends to mimic the dramaturgy of conventional practitioners through the use of occult rhetoric, labels, client typifications, props and treatment scripts. The management of venereal disease and sexual impotence is examined in detail to illustrate the occult approach to disease and dysfunction entities.
本文对农村和郊区算命者在治疗疾病和功能障碍方面的信仰及做法进行了拟剧分析。基于对21名非吉普赛算命者的深入访谈、一位关键信息提供者的客户记录以及第二作者对算命某些方面的亲身了解，本文考察了算命者作为准从业者的角色。研究发现，算命者运用了五种拟剧手段：（1）通过与医生建立非正式的共生关系来重申传统治疗规范；（2）为“客户”提供去污名化的分类；（3）提供一种神秘病因，其治疗“成功”需要精神层面的专业知识。针对这些病症的神秘治疗往往通过使用神秘的言辞、标签、客户类型、道具和治疗脚本，来模仿传统从业者的拟剧表现。本文详细考察了性病和性功能障碍的处理方式，以说明对疾病和功能障碍的神秘治疗方法。
