Vodou and neurosis

Voodoo and Neurosis (Vôdou et Névrose) by Justin Chrysostome Dorsainvil (1880–1942) is a groundbreaking study of Vodou at the crossroads of psychology, philology, and cultural history. Written in early 20th-century Haiti, this work remains one of the first systematic attempts to interpret Vodou beyond prejudice—bridging African heritage, Haitian identity, and Western science.

Dorsainvil examines Vodou as both a spiritual practice and a social phenomenon. He draws connections between psychology, psychopathology, anthropology, and linguistics, situating Vodou in its African roots while showing how it evolved in Haiti under colonialism and slavery. With chapters on the psychological dimensions of trance and possession, philological studies of Fon (Fongbé) and other African languages, and a detailed presentation of the Haitian Vodou pantheon, Voodoo and Neurosis is at once a scientific treatise, a cultural history, and a defense of Haiti’s intellectual heritage.

This English edition makes Dorsainvil’s classic accessible to a new generation of readers, scholars, and practitioners interested in Caribbean religions, African diasporic traditions, and the intersections of culture, spirituality, and identity.


Why read this book?

A rare early Haitian voice analyzing Vodou from within.
Combines psychology, anthropology, linguistics, and history.
Offers a unique window into Haiti’s cultural and spiritual identity.
Essential reading for anyone interested in Vodou, African heritage, and Caribbean studies.