Mass Hysteria And The Salem Witch Trials

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Mass Hysteria What do meowing nuns, dancing plagues, and the Salem witch trials all have in common? They are all examples of incidents of mass hysteria. Mass hysteria is a term used to describe a phenomenon which occurs when groups of people react in an irrational manner to something real or imagined as a result of rumors or fear. It is characterized by symptoms of physical illness for which there are no reasonable explanations. Also known as collective hysteria, group hysteria, and collective obsessional behavior. Mass hysteria is usually studied by psychiatrists and physicians. This condition “usually manifests itself in groups of people that are in enclosed settings, such as schools, convents, factories, and orphanages.” (1) These enclosed

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