This book investigates possession and possession-trance. While the author focuses on a case study of Haiti, there are also a handful of cross cultural tests performed. Results suggest that societal complexity is associated with belief in possession-trance, rather than possession alone.

Anthropologists have claimed that possession trance– an altered state of consciousness from spirit possession– is a psychosocial phenomenon. In particular, they argue that it is related to levels of social complexity, rigidity, and separation in gender participation. The author tests this claim through Bayesian hierarchical generalized linear models and phylogenetic comparative methods, but finds that possession trance is only correlated with social complexity and rigidity, not separation in gender participation.

A previous study conducted by Singh (2017) investigates why and how features of shamanism have culturally evolved, one such feature being shamanistic trance. However, the authors of this article argue that Singh fails to distinguish between different types of shamanistic trance. They find that possession trance, as compared to trance without possession, is primarily dominated by females and found in complex societies.

This study examines correlates of trance and possession in pre-industrial societies. Results suggest that the presence of trance/possession is associated with subsistence, number of jurisdictional levels, and community decision-making.

This article offers a detailed analysis of neurophysiological processes involved in altered states of consciousness. Cross-cultural hypotheses concerning altered states of consciousness are tested.

The expressed purpose of the present publication is to provide a typology of institutionalized dissociational states on a world-wide basis, using biological, situational, and cultural parameters. The study is comprised of field work, literature review, ethnographic research, and cross-cultural statistical analysis. The researchers use these findings to aid in the construction of cross-cultural theory, and to provide a platform for further work on dissociational states to continue.

This article tests hypotheses relating altered states of consciousness, healing and social structure variables such as gender stratification, female participation, and kinship structure. Results did not support an association between ASCs and gender stratification, but did suggest distinct correlates of possession versus trance healing.

This article investigates a cultural patterning of altered states of consciousness. The authors use an ordinal variable for a society's trance type; its four levels are 1) trance, 2) trance and possession trance, 3) possession trance, and 4) neither type. Results suggest that trance type is associated with measures of societal complexity and subsistence economy. Regional differences and the effects of diffusion are also examined.

This article offers a detailed analysis of neuropsychopsiological processes involved in altered states of consciousness (ASC) in order to design and evaluate a psychophysiological model of trance states. Cross-cultural hypotheses concerning ASC are tested.

This chapter reviews various ethnographic and psychological studies of dreaming and hypothesizes about the relationship between institutionalized forms of trance and the use of dreams. Results show that societies with institutionalized forms of trance are more likely to use dreams to seek and control supernatural powers.