Cannibalism: The practice of eating the flesh of one’s own species. It’s an act carried out by both animals and humans, and while people are genetically “hard-wired” against it, there are always a few exceptions.
When we think of cannibalism, we remember a few infamous tales. Some start with the movies – Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. Others look at real-world examples – Jeffrey Dahmer, Armin Meiwes, Albert Fish… But there is more to it than the monsters we know.
Cannibalism dates back as far as the beginning, with evidence that early humans practiced the act, often supplementing their diets by eating each other. Some cultures practiced endocannibalism, or the ritual of eating a family member after they have passed.
In Papua New Guinea, the Fore tribe passed down this ritual for generations. They believed consuming their deceased family members would help free the spirit of the dead. Women and children often consumed the brain, leading to what we now know as Kúru.
Kúru, a Fore world meaning “shiver” or “trembling”, is also known as the “laughing sickness.” This disease is a degenerative brain disorder, and is associated with the accumulation of prion protein (PrP) in the brain. PrP occurs naturally in the brain, and it’s safe to say consumption of another’s brain matter only increases this protein to unsafe levels.
Some scientists believe that PrP also plays a role in other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Symptoms of Kúru begin with decreased muscle control, leaving the person unsteady on their feet, body tremors, and even difficulty pronouncing words. As the disease progresses, the person will lose all ability to walk without support. Then emotional instability and depression kicks in. Those infected often exhibit signs of uncontrolled and sporadic laughter.
At the end, the person is left without the ability to move or speak. They develop a difficulty swallowing, which in turn leads to severe malnutrition. They begin to develop chronic ulcerated wounds that are easily infected.
Once one person developed Kúru, it was then passed down to whomever consumed their body next.
Still looking at the tribes of Papua New Guinea, the Mianmin tribe was known to eat the people of other tribes during their village raids. This form of cannibalism is known as Exocannibalism.
In early European culture, consuming the mummified bodies of the dead was considered a form of medicine, believed to cure various ailments. This act alone resulted in a surge in demand for mummified bodies, and the ensuing boom of grave robbing in Egypt. It was believed that the consumption of natural bitumen obtained from the Dead Sea had great medicinal properties.
In Egypt, mummies were believed to have been prepared with bitumen. While this belief remains today, it has been proven that they actually use resin in their embalming process.
As the supply of mummies ran low, apothecaries substituted dead bodies for their medicines.
As mentioned before, humans are genetically “hard-wired” against consuming each other. You will find most stories of cannibalism have stemmed from a place of need. The Donner party and the colonial settlers in Jamestown are two known cases of such need.
When Joseph Stalin seized land and reorganized the agriculture in Russia, the Ukrainian people refused to give it up. Stalin punished them, starving them into submission, which led to famine and many turning to cannibalism to survive.
As with anything, there are exceptions to the rule, leading to very well known serial killer cannibals, Jeffrey Dahmer, Albert Fish, Armin Miewes, Issei Sagawa, and the legendary Sawney Bean (Think of the film, The Hills Have Eyes).
It is also known that cannibalism can be addictive. Research has shown that consumption of human meat activates the pleasure center of the brain and releases large amounts of dopamine. According to Karen Hylen, a therapist at Summit Malibu Treatment Center, compares this to what happens when a person ingests cocaine.
Outside of serial killers, and need driven cannibals, there are also those who suffer from a disorder known as “autocannibalism.” This disorder/practice involves a person who practices severe self-bodily harm. In one example, a man who had a habit of biting his fingernails eventually turned to chewing on his own fingers, until he ultimately chewed them off. Other cases include people who have chewed off their own tongues or other parts of their body.
Autocannibalism can also be genetically inherited, and is called Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. This is the result of a single faulty gene on the X chromosome.
So, what exactly does human meat taste like? Well, surprisingly, the answer is not chicken. Cannibals have reported that human meat is most comparable to pork. That’s exactly what serial killer Joe Metheny thought, and he took the meat of his victims and mixed it with pork, selling it as sandwiches at his open pit stand.
Researchers, having questioned cannibals over time, have also learned that the specific taste of human meat varies based upon gender, age, and the part of the body being consumed.
And if eating human meat still sounds interesting, it might be good to note that it has very little nutritional value.
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