Latah in Southeast Asia The History and Ethnography of a Culture-Bound Syndrome

Latah, the Malayan hyperstartle pattern, has fascinated Western observers since the late nineteenth century, and is widely considered a 'culture-bound syndrome'. This study critically reviews the literature, and presents new ethnographic information, concluding that latah serves specific social functions, and should not be treated as an 'illness' or 'syndrome'.Winzeler, Robert L. is the author of 'Latah in Southeast Asia The History and Ethnography of a Culture-Bound Syndrome' with ISBN 9780521472197 and ISBN 0521472199.