cannibalism

Cannibalism is the act of consuming the flesh or internal organs of another human being. In academic use, the term refers specifically to humans eating humans, as opposed to interactions between unrelated species. The practice is categorized by context: endocannibalism, in which members of a social group eat a deceased relative as part of mourning or ritual; exocannibalism, in which individuals eat members of other groups, often in warfare or to symbolize domination; and cases described as survival cannibalism when people resort to eating human flesh to stay alive after extreme hunger or disaster.

Throughout history various cultures have practiced cannibalism under different social meanings. The Fore of Papua New Guinea practiced endocannibalism in mortuary rites until the mid-20th century; the practice helped transmit kuru, a prion disease, among some communities and researchers cite it in studying disease transmission. Other documented instances include survival cannibalism during famines or shipwrecks, such as in the Donner Party and certain expeditions in the Andes.

Legal and ethical responses to cannibalism are complex. In most modern jurisdictions it is illegal to consume human flesh and widely condemned, though some cultures historically permitted it under specific rites. Anthropologists emphasize the importance of understanding cannibalism within its cultural context and caution against using it to stereotype groups.

Origin of the term: cannibalism comes from the Spanish word caníbal, borrowed from the name of the Carib people of the Caribbean, whose name was associated with the practice by early European observers. The word has remained in common use to describe humans who eat humans, regardless of cultural practice.