What is the psychological motivation behind people who enjoy eating their own kind? (even if they aren't serial killers, but say stole some human from a morgue.) I know reasons for cannibalism varies across societies, but I'm interested in an American perspective.
2006-11-30 06:34:13 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Psychology
I'm asking about people who enjoy the act of eating human flesh. What makes it enjoyable to them?
2006-11-30 06:53:35 · update #1
I'm asking because we're doing a skit for acting class where a chicken is eating chicken, and enjoying it, and another chicken sees her and is disturbed, but once she's convinced to try the chicken, she eats it enthusiastically. We need to explain the motivations of our characters.
2006-11-30 07:25:02 · update #2
You could say that this sort of psychological defect extends to the same class as many eating disorders. In general, it does not have much to do with concern for nutrition, but rather, a lack of stability or control in one's life. If you look at some of the more famous cannibals, (Ed Gein, Jeffrey Dahmer), it becomes a sexually-motivated fetish. In these cases, they not only ate people, but also ate their genitals.
So why?? When you look at these people's pasts, you may notice a common thread of extreme trauma in childhood. Doesn't make people much more palatable to us, but that's all for the better.
2006-11-30 06:50:27 · answer #1 · answered by Melissa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WHAT? Why are you asking this question? That's a wee bit strange...don't you think? The only time anyone should ever even entertain such a thought would be if you are adrift on the open ocean and you have no other option but to do something like that. Ugh...even then, I think I'd prefer to die then to resort to that. But who knows what happens to the mind at a point in time such as that. Hopefully, most of us will never have to make that decision!
2006-11-30 14:48:39 · answer #2 · answered by Evil Wordmonger, LTD LOL 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not American but from a human view point if I were starving or short of good food logic dictates that one use all the protein available and that includes dead humans - they are edible and not rotting. If you take away the emotion of human contact and just think of a body as meat, as many incivilised tribes might do, then there is no problem, in fact it amkes sence from a survival view point.
2006-11-30 14:43:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that human meat is physically similar to pork and we all love eating pork and pork crackle. There is also a saying for human-pig i cant remember what it is, but if you can find it, it may be the answer you are seeking, i think it comes from early cannabilism. Maybe we like to eat what is similar to ourselves.
2006-11-30 14:42:17 · answer #4 · answered by min 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm American and I can't honestly answer it. I cant' put myself in that perspective. It's too creepy. Gave me the jitters attempting to think about it...
Min are you making a pun of the "Men are Pigs" theory?
2006-11-30 14:44:24 · answer #5 · answered by elliott 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the kind of person being eaten.
Lean people would be more likely to be enjoyed by a beef jerky aficionado. Fat folks would probably be more of a pork-chop kind of thing. Greasy, y'know.
2006-11-30 14:40:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, I've always just been curious how humans taste. Is it like beef? Are children like veal?
2006-11-30 14:41:56 · answer #7 · answered by John A 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sorry to tell you, but what in the world are you talking about? Bye!!!!
2006-11-30 14:41:51 · answer #8 · answered by Sam 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋