Abstract
The study explores the parental concept of child development among the Malayan community of north Kerala anchoring on the cultural-historical psychology and sociocultural tradition in relation to the hereditary occupational activities of the community in the sociocultural locale. The ontogenetic account of the participants reveals that the focus is on a child’s capability of performing the hereditary services of the community for earning his or her livelihood. It concomitantly engages with the practices of hereditary occupation and village structure that create a developmental pathway for deciding on the progression of a child through certain activities, which will enable the children to be gradually equipped to perform their services. The hereditary occupation creates collective motive among the community members, which not only helps them in earning livelihood but also creates legitimate cultural meanings to continue the ritual service. The decline of village structure and the caste system have transformed the concept of hereditary occupation, which in turn gets reflected in the upbringing of their children.
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Notes
The right to perform hereditary rituals inside a particular territory.
Order given by the local ruler.
A month of Malayalam calendar.
Coloured water symbolising the miseries.
Midwife of the village.
The reward given for religious service.
Lineage based household.
Sacred grove where deities are adored.
A local word used to signify a woman in the Malayan community.
The leader in Kōtāmūripāṭṭŭ performance.
Chants recited to praise god in Teyyam.
Sacred powder given to the devotees by Teyyam performer to put on the forehead.
Double-headed drum uses to control the rhythm.
A region with certain boundaries.
Meager amount of money given as a reward for ritual services.
The act of giving honorary entitlements to a Teyyam performer by the local ruler.
A chieftain of the pre-modern period who continue to possess some customary rights.
A honorific entitlements given for a good Teyyam performer by local ruler.
Vocal quality desired for singing.
Routines observed to keep the body pure at sacred occasions.
Those who come directly to the earth not by normal birth.
A local word used to signify a woman in the Malayan community.
Practices supposed to be done by a particular caste.
A mythical figure usually associated with the origin of Teyyam.
Incantation used for healing.
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Kuniyil, V. Parental Concept of Child Development and Hereditary Occupation Among the Malayan Community of North Kerala. Psychol Stud 66, 445–454 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-021-00632-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-021-00632-9