Amok syndrome is a type of aggressive behavior that comes from the Malay culture. The phrase "running amok" comes from the Malay word "amuk," which means "rushing in a frenzy" or "attacking furiously." This syndrome involves sudden attacks on people or objects after a period of thinking about something for a long time. It was once believed to only happen in Malay culture, but now it is seen as a type of mental health issue that can occur in many places. The syndrome was listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR). However, in the DSM-V, Amok syndrome is no longer classified as a culture-bound syndrome because that category was removed.

Malay word

The word "amok" comes from the Malay phrase "meng-âmuk," which means "to make a furious and desperate charge." This term is based on an older word from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian language, "hamuk," meaning "attack." In Malaysian and Indonesian cultures, amok is tied to spiritual beliefs. Many Malaysians believe amok is caused by a spirit called "hantu belian," an evil tiger spirit that enters a person's body and causes them to act violently. Because of this belief, people in Malay culture often accept amok and do not hold the person who acts violently responsible for their actions.

Although the term is sometimes used in less serious ways, it is most closely linked to a specific condition found in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. In a typical case of running amok, a person—usually a man with no history of anger or violence—will suddenly take a weapon, such as a sword or dagger, and attack others in a violent frenzy. This often happens in crowded places. Amok episodes usually end with the attacker being killed by others or choosing to commit suicide. This has led some to believe that amok might be a way for people to end their lives in cultures where suicide is strongly discouraged. Those who survive often lose consciousness and later claim they do not remember what happened.

An early Western record of amok appears in the writings of British explorer Captain James Cook. In 1770, he described people acting violently without clear reasons, killing and harming villagers and animals during sudden attacks.

A common explanation for amok is its connection to male honor. Amok is rarely seen in women or children. For men, running amok may serve as a way to escape the world, as most attackers are killed or commit suicide, and also to prove they are strong and respected as men.

Contemporary psychiatric syndrome

In 1849, Amok was officially recognized as a mental health condition after many reports and studies showed that most people who committed Amok had mental health issues. For about twenty years, this behavior was described as a culture-bound syndrome, meaning it was linked to specific cultural practices. However, the DSM-V no longer includes the category of culture-bound syndromes, so Amok is no longer classified this way. Culture-bound syndromes are conditions that only appear in certain societies, while standard mental health diagnoses are not limited by culture. Similar conditions exist in other cultures, such as "cafard" in Polynesia or "mal de pelea" in Puerto Rico.

Forms

The DSM-IV does not tell apart the two forms of amok, which people used to describe as beramok and amok. Beramok, the more common type, was connected to personal loss and happened after a time of sadness and thinking a lot. Amok, the less common type, was thought to come from anger, a feeling of being insulted, or a desire for revenge against someone.

Historical and cross-cultural comparisons

Early travelers in Asia sometimes described a type of military action called amok, in which soldiers facing certain defeat suddenly acted with extreme violence. This surprised their enemies and sometimes led to victory or what soldiers in that culture considered an honorable death. A similar event happened during the Battle of Margarana in 1946 in Bali, where this action is known as puputan, a Balinese word for a group suicide practice during war rather than surrendering to the enemy.

In 1513, Tomé Pires wrote in his book Suma Oriental about the Javanese people:

The Javanese people are known for their amocos, which are individuals determined to die (to run amok). Some do this when drunk, but noblemen often challenge each other to duels and fight over disagreements. This is a common practice in their culture. Some kill themselves while riding horses, and others on foot, depending on their choice.

In 1514, Duarte Barbosa recorded observations about the Javanese people in Malacca:

They are skilled fighters and brave in battle. Some Javanese who become seriously ill make vows to God that if they recover, they will seek a more honorable death. Once healed, they take a dagger and attack people in the streets, killing as many as they can, regardless of age or gender. These individuals are called amuco. When they begin this, people shout "amuco, amuco" to warn others. They are killed with daggers or spears. Many of these Javanese live in cities with families and property.

This type of amok is similar to the Scandinavian Berserker, the Puerto Rican mal de pelea, and the Navajo iich'aa. The Zulu battle trance is another example of groups entering a violent frenzy during fights.

In modern Indonesia, the term amok (or amuk) usually refers to violent actions by large groups rather than individuals. Indonesians now use the term gelap mata ("darkened eyes") to describe individual acts of amok. In 1955, Laurens van der Post wrote about this phenomenon in the East Indies:

*"Gelap mata," the Dark Eye, is a term used in Sumatra and Java to describe a strange and unsettling social event. The Malays, Sumatrans, and Javanese are often seen as polite and obedient people. They respect traditions and family duties. However, sometimes a person who has always been kind and responsible suddenly becomes angry and refuses to follow rules.

In the Philippines, amok also refers to an individual's sudden, uncontrolled urge to kill. In 1876, the Spanish governor-general of the Philippines, José Malcampo, created the term juramentado (from juramentar, meaning "to take an oath") to describe this behavior. This term is still used today as huramentado. It is often linked to the Moro people of Mindanao, especially in the Sulu Archipelago, due to cultural pressures. A similar term in the Philippines is pagdilim ng paningin, which means "darkening of vision" and is used to describe someone consumed by anger.

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, the Rajputs in India also experienced similar events. In 1634, the eldest son of the raja of Jodhpur attacked the court of Shah Jahan, failed to harm the emperor, but killed five officials. In the 18th century, two envoys sent by the Jodhpur chief to resolve a dispute with Hyderabad (Sind) stabbed the prince and twenty-six of his attendants before dying themselves.

In popular culture

In the novel The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo, the Malaysian belief that hantu belian can take over humans and kill without reason is an important part of the story.

In John Brunner’s novel Stand on Zanzibar, the term amok describes a common occurrence caused by too many people in one place. A character in the book explains how this behavior might happen.

The third part of Christopher Koch’s novel The Year of Living Dangerously, called Patet Manjura: Amok, takes place during Indonesia’s very chaotic period after the failed 1965 coup attempt.

In music, the German band Ledernacken released their first single, Amok!, in 1983. The song was inspired by the syndrome and reached number 29 on the US Billboard Dance Chart in March 1984.