Another point that this article does not discuss is that in many of the &quot;less coercive&quot; societies, schizophrenia or related diseases are not seen as a disease or problematic at all.<p>McKenna writes: &quot;A shaman is someone who swims in the same ocean as the schizophrenic, but the shaman has thousands and thousands of years of sanctioned technique and tradition to draw upon. In a traditional society, if you exhibited “schizophrenic” tendencies, you are immediately drawn out of the pack and put under the care and tutelage of master shamans. You are told: “You are special. Your abilities are very central to the health of our society. You will cure. You will prophesy. You will guide our society in its most fundamental decisions.”&quot; [0]<p>[0]: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.scribd.com&#x2F;doc&#x2F;12470230&#x2F;Eros-and-the-Eschaton-rough-copy" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.scribd.com&#x2F;doc&#x2F;12470230&#x2F;Eros-and-the-Eschaton-rou...</a><p>See also: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Social_construction_of_schizophrenia" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Social_construction_of_schizop...</a>