@article {edsgcl.1926673119960101,
	title = {A divine apparition or demonic possession? Female agency and church authority in demonic possession in sixteenth-century France.},
	journal = {The Sixteenth Century Journal},
	number = {4},
	year = {1996},
	pages = {1039},
	abstract = {The article discusses the possession and exorcism of sixteen-year-old Nicole Obry (1565-1566). It offers a three-layer interpretation of the case and argues that a combination of psychological, political, and gender issues brought about the woman{\textquoteright}s possession. I first suggest that possession by either good or evil spirits was a culturally recognized syndrome that allowed laypeople, mostly women, to express religious concern in a society that did not permit laywomen to address spiritual issues in more normative ways. Indeed, in her own perception prior to the clerical intervention, Nicole regarded herself as a visionary and not as a demoniac. The complexity of spirit possession as a psychological and psychopathological behavior also necessitates a personal (sub)conscious motivation, and I suggest that metaphors of penetration and possessions were directly related to Nicole{\textquoteright}s personal experiences and anxieties as a young woman. The social/cultural and the personal contexts are then conn},
	keywords = {Church {\textendash} Authority, Demoniac possession {\textendash} Case studies, Exorcism {\textendash} Case studies, France, France {\textendash} History, Sixteenth century {\textendash} Social aspects, Visions {\textendash} Case studies},
	issn = {0361-0160},
	url = {http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true\&db=edsgao\&AN=edsgcl.19266731\&site=eds-live},
	author = {Sluhovsky, M.}
}
