Watchers in the Night: An Anthropological Look at Sleep Disorders

An anthropological point of view is introduced to explain the origin of sleep disorders. Four groups of sufferers are discussed: (1) Those that fail to maintain primary relationships; (2) those that feel increased vulnerability during the night; (3) those who have failed to separate or individuate; and (4) those who show a higher arousability than sound sleepers. A case example is offered for each group. A description of sleeping arrangements of the Kung San people of the Kalahari desert; speculations of the need for arousability in primitive society to prevent predators from attacking serve to bolster the view point. A theory that suggests that sleep disorders in children are caused by Western sleeping arrangements, encouraging mother and child to sleep apart, is challenged.