Culture-Bound Syndromes: Mal De Ojo

Mal de ojo is a Spanish term for the evil eye, used most often in Spain and in Latin American countries of Hispanic descent. It is a folk belief, disease, or syndrome that is represented by an admiring look, a glance, or a voiced compliment and is believed to inflict injury or damage on the person, place, or thing that is the object of the gaze. Mal de ojo is one of the most widespread cultural beliefs and has many variations throughout the world.

The origins of this belief extend to the Old Testament, and it is found in Europe, the Mediterranean countries, India, and some parts of Asia. There is evidence of this belief in Hebrew writings, as well as in artifacts found in the ...