Abstracts of theses and treatises
Brady M (1987) Dealing with disorder: strategies of accommodation among the Southern Pitjantjatjara, Australia. Unpublished Master of Arts thesis, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
This is an anthropological study of a Pitjantjatjara-speaking community in South Australia. It addresses the ways in which the members of this community make sense of and deal with individual and social disorder. It documents Aboriginal definitions of proper and improper actions and behaviours, and the ways in which these are construed and made sense of. The study examines the understandings of physical and mental disorder held by Yalata people, and how these understandings locate 'disordered' individuals so as to achieve a coherent view of the world. Alcohol consumption is one source of disorder in this context, as are the illegal activities of young people. The study concludes by showing that the difficulties of living together are dealt with by accommodation, rather than confrontation, and by minimising and downplaying deviance, rather than amplifying it.
For further information on this subject look in the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet Bibliography or return to the theses page.
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