The Case Of Mass Hysteria In The Salem Witch Trials

Mass hysteria can be defined as, “The sociopsychological phenomenon in which a large group of people exhibits the same or similar hysterical symptoms simultaneously” (“Mass Hysteria”). Hysteria replaces logic and reasoning with insanity, clouding people's judgment and perception of what is happening. Absurd and unreasonable behavior takes place that is not understood and cannot be medically explained or treated. Mass hysteria occurs more often than people believe when large groups of people are fearful of rumored or imagined events, which may lead to mass chaos and destruction.
Mass hysteria spreads rapidly when large numbers of people are overwhelmed with emotions, paranoia, and stress. They experience an uncontrollable panic, where abnormal

Mass hysteria has been a large part of history that has perplexed people over centuries. Dating as far back as the middle ages, many cases of mass hysteria have been documented. Beginning in 1693, the Salem Witch Trials became known as the most notorious case of mass hysteria. Three children began experiencing violent contortions and screaming outbursts. After being seen by a doctor, other girls started to exhibit similar symptoms. They accused people of being possessed by the devil and of practicing witchcraft. Twenty people were killed during the Salem Witch Trials (History.com staff). Additionally, in 1518, in a free city of the Holy Roman Empire called Strasbourg (which is now France), hundreds of people danced uncontrollably and unwillingly for days. It started with a woman who stepped into the street and danced fervently for days until she collapsed from exhaustion. Eventually, there were up to 400

Often, outbreaks affect teenage girls more than boys (Small). In Belgium, Coca-Cola withdrew thirty million cans and bottles from being sold because almost one hundred students suffered from cramps, nausea, headaches and palpitations after drinking Coca-Cola. Additionally, students from other schools began to feel similar symptoms which lead the company to recall the product. Due to this mass hysteria outbreak, the drink was examined and the toxicology reports showed that there was nothing wrong and they could not find any evidence of contaminants to explain the epidemic (Dillner). People’s minds can be persuaded into believing that what is happening to someone else is going to happen to them. Mass hysteria can happen anywhere to anyone, as long as they are susceptible enough and are ready to fall into a state of delusion. For example, in Tanzania, chaos ensued after a female student fainted, causing twenty other girls to lose consciousness. Other students yelled and ran around the school. No medical cause was found, but exams put extreme pressure on the students which may have lead to the fainting spells and mass hysteria (Waller). Hysteria pushes people over the edge while allowing their minds take over which manifest with physical symptoms. Mass hysteria thrives on the fear that people have and when put into a certain situation, mass hysteria can become