Cannibalism
Cannibalism (pronunciation: /ˈkanəbəˌlizəm/) is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh or internal organs of other human beings. A person who practices cannibalism is called a cannibal. The expression cannibalism has been extended into zoology to mean one individual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food, including sexual cannibalism.
Etymology
The word "cannibalism" is derived from Caníbales, the Spanish name for the Carib, a West Indies tribe that formerly practiced cannibalism, from Spanish canibal or caribal, "a savage". It is also called anthropophagy.
Types of Cannibalism
Cannibalism can be classified into three categories:
- Endocannibalism (Endocannibalism): A practice of eating the flesh of a human being from the same community (endogroup), usually after they have died.
- Exocannibalism (Exocannibalism): The consumption of flesh outside of one's close social group—for example, eating one's enemy.
- Autocannibalism (Autocannibalism): Also known as self-cannibalism or autosarcophagy, it is the act of eating one's own body.
Cannibalism in History
Historically, numerous tribal societies have engaged in cannibalism, although very few are thought to continue the practice to this day.
Cannibalism in Medicine
In medicine, there is a pathology related to cannibalism known as Kuru (Kuru), a neurodegenerative disorder that was predominantly found among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea. Kuru is believed to be transmitted through ritualistic cannibalism.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cannibalism
- Wikipedia's article - Cannibalism
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