 There could be conflicting attitudes regarding the practices of a magician; in European history, authorities often believed that cunning folk and traditional healers were harmful because their practices were regarded as magical and thus stemming from contact with demons, whereas a local community might value and respect these individuals because their skills and services were deemed beneficial.In Western societies, the practice of magic, especially when harmful, was usually associated with women.For instance, during the witch trials of the early modern period, around three quarters of those executed as witches were female, to only a quarter who were men.