Multidisciplinary Analysis of the Kaguru Rites of Initiation

Comparison Chart (Differences in Kaguru Rites of Initiation for Females and Males)

Things you might consider while reflecting on your personal experience:

Anthropology

• Concerns
• culture-boundedness
• challenging a western focus
• capturing subtle detail
• Broad questions for analysis
• What are the details of the rite of passage?
• How does this rite of passage fit in the culture?
• What is the significance of the rite to the culture?
• Mythically
• Pragmatically

Sociology

• Concern
• causality
• social facts
• Broad questions for analysis
• What institutions are involved in the rite of passage?
• How is power brokered in the right of passage?
• Who are the authorities?  Who are the initiates?  How do they interact?  How are the initiates enculturated?
• What societal needs does this rite of passage address?

Psychology

• Concern
• The effect on the individual
• Broad questions for analysis
• What stage of development is the individual in?  How does the rite impact the individual in this stage?
• How does this rite of passage impact the individual's self concept?
• What mechanisms are being used to change the individual in the rite of passage?
• What individual needs of the initiate are addressed in the rite of passage?  Of the elder?
• How do we predict that the individual will act after having undergone this rite of passage?