I&#x27;d say that firstly, these are anthropological case studies without much quantification; there can&#x27;t be. It&#x27;s meant to provide rich account or potential insight, and that&#x27;s how it&#x27;s taken.<p>Secondly, I think the general professional narrative about those accounts is that those shamans were schizotypal, and that severe marginalization of the schizophrenic population is a cross-cultural phenomena.<p>Every culture has its idea of what is acceptable, including what&#x27;s acceptable magical or religious thinking (we don&#x27;t think that Christians who pray to Jesus for cancer relief, whether effective or not, are schizophrenic). But if you step outside of those realms, you will be mistreated. If you tell Christians that you have a personal relationship with Jesus, they&#x27;ll think that&#x27;s normal. If you tell them that you actually hear the voice of Jesus, they&#x27;ll be conspiculously polite but suspicious.