• Question: why are some people cannibals

    Asked by jeromeswh to David, Helen, Ian, rhysphillips, Sarah on 20 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Helen Fletcher

      Helen Fletcher answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Cannibalism is cultural behaviour rather than for nutritional need. Useful for scaring your enemies or honouring your dead. It does give you CJD (mad cows disease) though.

    • Photo: Rhys Phillips

      Rhys Phillips answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Good question – it’s a psychological matter I think.

    • Photo: Sarah Cook

      Sarah Cook answered on 19 Jun 2011:

      probably for the same reason that some people are vegetarians!!!

    • Photo: Ian van der Linde

      Ian van der Linde answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Because they have run out of chicken nuggets. Real answer: Sometimes cannibalism occurs because a tribe want to preserve the wisdom of a dead leader, and they think eating him can help them to acquire his knowledge. This led to some nasty brain diseases similar to BSE/CJD. Other cannibalism occurs because a tribe wants to feel that they dominate an enemy, and eating them is the ultimate demonstration of power. For others still, it could be nutrition – human flesh is just as nutritious as animal flesh, so for them it may seem a waste not to use the body of your enemy for something practical.

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