Examples of Mass Hysteria

Mass hysteria, also known as mass psychogenic illness, is when a threat (real or imagined) causes physical symptoms or bizarre behavior to spread among a large number of people.

Here are some notable examples from history:

The Dancing Plague (1518): In Strasbourg, France, a woman began dancing uncontrollably in the street. Over the next month, hundreds of others joined her, dancing until they collapsed from exhaustion, and some died. It's believed to be an example of mass psychogenic illness, possibly triggered by severe psychological distress and social strain common in the Middle Ages.

The Salem Witch Trials (1692–1693): In Salem Village, Massachusetts, a series of trials and executions took place after several young girls experienced convulsions and fits and accused members of the community of witchcraft. This panic led to the accusation of about 200 people, with 19 people being hanged.

The War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast (1938): A radio adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds, narrated in a news bulletin format by Orson Welles, caused panic among thousands of listeners who believed that an actual Martian invasion was taking place in the United States.

Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic (1962): Starting in a mission-run boarding school for girls in modern-day Tanzania (then Tanganyika), a fit of laughter spread, affecting hundreds of people in the area for months and forcing schools to temporarily close.

June Bug Epidemic (1962): At a U.S. textile factory, 62 workers experienced symptoms like nausea and dizziness. Rumors of a bug infestation that caused the illness spread, but no evidence of such a bug or environmental cause was ever found; the incident was attributed to mass hysteria, likely fueled by stress and the power of suggestion.

The Satanic Panic (1980s): A widespread moral panic in the U.S. and other parts of the world was centered on the belief that groups were ritually abusing and exploiting children as part of Satanic cults. While there was virtually no evidence to support these claims, the panic led to numerous unproven accusations and trials.

Here are some examples of mass hysteria, aka mass psychogenic illness, in modern times.

Institutional child abuse. From Penn State, Catholic Church, Boy Scouts

MeToo accusations.

Pretending men are women, and vice versa.

Idolizing George Floyd and other Black criminals. There were even cops kneeling before Blacks.

Covid-19. The world shut down over what turned out to be a bad flu season.

After 9-11-2011, importing millions of Moslem and Arabs. What was the purpose of that?

DEI.

Indians took over many of our top tech companies. Who thought that was a good idea?

Talk of harm and safe spaces. Almost every day I see someone complain about some triviality, such as some minor political opinion, and argue that it causes real harm.