Folklore surrounding facial deformity and the origins of facial prejudice.

In the pioneer study by MacGregor et al. (1953) extended interviews with facially deformed patients revealed the serious psycho-social difficulties that could be encountered in everyday life. This view was elaborated by Goffman (1963) who held that facial deformity was one of several conditions that could stigmatise individuals, making them less acceptable to the rest of society. The desire to overcome social prejudice is certainly an important motive for patients who seek corrective surgery (Jensen, 1978). Hostility towards the facially deformed is no longer as extreme as in 1708 when Frederick V. of Denmark ruled that no individual with a facial deformity might show himself to a pregnant woman (Weiser, 1963). Yet in some parts of the world, open prejudices still persist: among some African tribes a deformed man is prohibited from elevation to chieftaincy (Babalola, 1978) while among rural communities in the Indian subcontinent, the family which begets a deformed child is held in low esteem until certain purifying rituals have been performed (Dehragoda, 1978). Even in modern society, feelings of aversion are still aroused by deformities of the face, particularly the more severe, though the modifying effect of other emotions such as sympathy and curiosity are poorly understood (Shaw et al., 1980~). In the less inhibited society of childhood, disapproval of deviant physical features is openly voiced (Shaw et al., 1980b) and in interviews held recently at out-patient clinics for children with deformities such as cleft lip and facial .burns, most of the children were reported to be victims of frequent teasing and harassment (Jones et al., 1979). In the first part of this paper, possible reasons why facial deformities may evoke an unfavourable social response are examined. In the second part,. primitive beliefs about the genesis of deformity in general, then more specific facial deformities, are reviewed. Finally, the results of an interview survey of present folklore and “old wives” tales concerning facial deformity are reported.