Taboo

. Translates to "Keep out"]]
In a group or society, a **taboo** is something that is not acceptable to talk about or do.  An activity or behavior can be taboo in one culture, but not in another.  Some things like cannibalism and sexual relationships between siblings are taboo in almost all societies.  Sometimes even talking about taboos is taboo.  Some taboos may also be against the law, and people who break them may be punished. Breaking taboos can seem rude, and can cause  or shame.

## Origins of the word 
The English word “taboo” comes from the Tongan word *tapu* or the Fijian word *tabu*. These words usually mean "not allowed", or "forbidden". He thinks that humans have a reflex to feel disgust when they see some things that carry disease (including dead bodies).  He says that people created taboos regarding the dead because of this natural disgust for dead bodies. He thinks that some actions can also cause this reflex of disgust. He says many people have a reflex of disgust about incest (sexual relationships between family members). For this reason, taboos about incest developed.

### Psychoanalytical approach 
The psychoanalytical approach says that taboos exist because of people’s unconscious thoughts and feelings.  For example, Sigmund Freud thought that children naturally have sexual desires towards family members.  In his book ‘’Totem and Taboo,’’ Freud wrote that taboos about incest developed to make sure people would not act on these sexual desires.   Freud thought that incest and patricide are the only “universal” taboos (meaning these behaviors are taboo in almost all societies and cultures).  He said that these taboos formed the basis of modern societies.

German psychologist Wilhelm Wundt explains that taboos come from people’s fear of a "demonic" power.  When people think this demonic power lies hidden in an object, that object becomes taboo. Sigmund Freud disagreed.  Freud thought that Wundt’s ideas did not consider the psychological reasons for taboos. Writing about the history of taboos, Freud said:

:"Taboos, we must suppose, are prohibitions of primæval antiquity which were at some time externally imposed upon a generation of primitive men; they must, that is to say, no doubt have been impressed on them violently by the previous generation. These prohibitions must have concerned activities towards which there was a strong inclination. They must then have persisted from generation to generation, perhaps merely as a result of tradition transmitted through parental and social authority."

Freud added: "Anyone who has violated a taboo becomes taboo himself because he possesses the dangerous quality of tempting others to follow his example."

## Related pages
* Censorship

* Etiquette or manners

* Morality and ethics

* Paraphilia
* Prejudice
* Shunning
* Sin
* Social stigma
* Taboo food and drink
* *Totem and taboo*

## References 

## Sources 
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*  *Globus*, **59**: [181ff.]
*  [562ff.]
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*  [1st ed., 1913.]
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* Kulick and Willson, *Taboo: Sex, Identity, and Erotic Subjectivity in Anthropological Fieldwork* 1995
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## Other websites 
* Review of taboos around the world and their history
* Tolerance.org- December 2006 Controversial subjects in the classroom 
* Buddhists Against Reincarnation
* Did Sean Salisbury said "Jew" or "chew"? Ethnic slurs and terms are notably taboo in today's society. 
* Cinematical blog: Censoring "G-D" on airline movies? 
* Taboos in modern society