Final answer:
Shamans are effective in treating diseases that are understood through personalistic disease theories, which attribute illness to supernatural forces and spiritual entities. Shamanistic practices may involve rituals, spiritual communication, and altered states of consciousness to diagnose and exorcise spiritual influences affecting health. The correct choice is a. personalistic.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shamans and other magico-religious specialists are particularly effective in treating diseases within personalistic disease theories. In these theories, illness is not seen as resulting from biological factors, but rather as the result of supernatural forces, spirits, or the displeasure of deities.
Shamanistic practices involve connecting with the supernatural to treat ailments, which can include entering altered states of consciousness to engage with spiritual entities or conducting rituals to influence spiritual forces in favor of the patient.
In these cultures, diseases may be perceived as caused by the malevolent intentions of others, by spiritual beings, or as a result of breaking taboos.
Therefore, the role of the shaman is to diagnose and exorcise the negative spiritual influences causing illness. The healing techniques employed by shamans can range from rituals, dances, and chants, to the use of medicinal plants and substances known to induce altered states.
Though scientific medicine is based on the naturalistic disease theory and treats biological causes of diseases, shamanistic practices thrive within cultures that attribute illness to otherworldly causes, complementing or acting as an alternative to biomedical approaches.