Actually, it seems to have started in South America and may still be practiced 
in 
some areas.

"The custom of taking trophy heads in battle or war is widespread among many 
people in the world and goes back to prehistoric times, but shrinking the head 
is confined to isolated places in South America. In recent times we know of 
only 
a few tribes in Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil who continue this practice.

Ritual decapitation apparently has a long history in South America, dating as 
early as 200 BC. Many Nazca and Moche designs on pottery and textiles feature 
trophy heads, and the Nazca motifs in particular indicate that headshrinking 
might also have been practiced. This gruesome custom may well have been 
passed on to the Jivaro, whose territory is in the vicinity of these early 
civilizations."

In part from:  Harner, Michael. The Jivaro: People of the Sacred Waterfalls. 
New 
York, Anchor Books, 1973





---- Original message ----
>Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 13:17:47 -0400
>From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
>Subject: Re: [tips] etiology of "shrink" and other things  
>To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" 
<[email protected]>
>
>   Shrink is a short version of headshrinker which
>   originated with the practices of the medicine men of
>   Africa.
>    
>   Michael Sylvester,PhD
>   Daytona  Beach,Florida
>
>    
>
> ---
> To make changes to your subscription contact:
>
> Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])

Bob Wildblood, PhD, HSPP
Lecturer in Psychology
Indiana University Kokomo
Kokomo, IN  46904-9003
[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]

---
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Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])

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