Mass Hysteria

Warmer: mass

Check out the different uses of the word MASS in the sentences below. With a partner, can you explain the meaning of each usage?

01: Religion is the opium of the masses.

02: Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared (E = mc2).

03: In my life, I've amassed a lot of things that I don't really need.

04: Apparently, there is a supermassive blackhole at the centre of our galaxy.

05: That guy is massive! He must work out!

06: The 20th century will be known for the rise in the influence of mass media.

07: Most souvenirs nowadays are mass-produced in China.

08: The Jonestown massacre is going to be the focus of a new Netflix series.

Mass hysteria

Individually, most humans are all right. They generally just want a peaceful life, good relations with their friends and family, a partner to share this adventure with, some tasty food, some entertainment and some hobbies. Awesome sauce!

However, when you put enough humans together they, at times, start to behave in strange ways. Some of them start wearing crocs, and others even think it's OK to listen to Bon Jovi. And in some extreme cases, extreme and irrational beliefs can spread like a disease, causing MASS HYSTERIA, which can lead to some very odd, and even deadly, behaviour.

Before we move on, work with a partner.

What do you think mass hysteria is, exactly?

Can you think of any examples of mass hysteria?

Your ideas

We're now going to read about FOUR cases of mass hysteria.

Student A: Salem Witch Trials & Dancing Plague

Student B: Meowing Nuns & McCarthyism

Note: You are going to retell this information for your partner afterwards, so feel free to take notes about any names / dates or other details that may be important.

Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials were a series of prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. Rooted in a deeply religious Puritan society, the trials were fueled by a combination of superstition, religious fanaticism, and local disputes. The hysteria began in the village of Salem when a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. This led to widespread panic, as more individuals were accused of practicing dark magic.

The trials quickly escalated, with accusations spreading to other towns. The legal proceedings were often based on dubious evidence, including "spectral evidence," which claimed that the spirits of witches were seen by the victims. Nineteen people were hanged, one man was crushed to death, and many others were imprisoned.

The Salem Witch Trials are now viewed as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mass hysteria, scapegoating, and the abuse of power. In 1693, the governor of Massachusetts declared the trials unlawful, and years later, many involved apologized for their actions. The trials left a lasting mark on American history, symbolizing the consequences of fear and paranoia in a rigid, theocratic society.

The Dancing Plague of 1518

The Dancing Plague of 1518 was a bizarre and unexplained outbreak in Strasbourg, France, in which hundreds of people began dancing uncontrollably for days. The incident started in July 1518 when a woman named Frau Troffea suddenly began to dance fervently in the streets. Soon, others joined her, and within a week, dozens were dancing non-stop, seemingly unable to stop despite exhaustion, pain, and even death.

Historical accounts suggest that as many as 400 people were affected by this strange affliction. Local authorities, baffled by the event, consulted physicians who attributed the phenomenon to "hot blood." They believed that the only cure was to allow the afflicted to dance the frenzy out of their systems. As a result, authorities arranged for musicians and professional dancers to accompany the "patients," but this only worsened the situation.

The exact cause of the Dancing Plague remains unclear. Some theories suggest that it was a form of mass hysteria caused by extreme stress and hardship, as the region was experiencing famine and disease at the time. Others believe it could have been triggered by some kind of food poisoning from moldy rye bread, which causes hallucinations. The event remains one of history's most mysterious cases of mass psychogenic illness.

The Meowing Nuns of France

In the 15th century, a peculiar case of mass hysteria occurred in a French convent, where a group of nuns began inexplicably meowing like cats. In medieval Europe, cats were often associated with the devil, making the behavior even more alarming to those observing it. What began with one nun soon spread throughout the convent, with all the nuns joining in the bizarre chorus of cat-like sounds. The meowing episodes would last for hours, puzzling villagers and church officials alike.

At first, the meowing seemed harmless but eventually became disruptive and drew negative attention from local authorities. The convent’s reputation was at stake, and the community was both frightened and confused by the nuns’ strange behavior. After the situation escalated, soldiers were called in to threaten the nuns with physical punishment if they didn’t stop their meowing. The fear of violence finally ended the episodes.

This incident is one of many examples of mass psychogenic illness, where social stress and rigid, isolated environments like convents led to strange outbreaks of collective behavior. In the case of the meowing nuns, the isolated and highly regulated life of the convent may have contributed to the psychological conditions that caused the outbreak.

McCarthyism

McCarthyism refers to the anti-communist hysteria that swept the United States during the early 1950s, spearheaded by Senator Joseph McCarthy. Amid the Cold War tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, the fear of communist infiltration in American institutions became rampant. McCarthy capitalized on these fears, claiming that communists had infiltrated the U.S. government, military, and other influential sectors. He led a series of investigations and hearings, accusing many individuals of being communist sympathizers or spies without substantial evidence.

The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) also contributed to the era’s atmosphere of fear by investigating and blacklisting actors, writers, and other professionals in Hollywood, many of whom were falsely accused of communist ties. Careers were destroyed, reputations were ruined, and many were driven out of their industries due to these accusations.

McCarthyism is often seen as a modern form of mass hysteria, where fear and paranoia led to irrational actions and widespread persecution. The term has since become synonymous with reckless accusations and guilt by association. McCarthy’s influence became weaker after televised hearings in 1954 exposed his tactics, and he was eventually denounced by the Senate.

Now retell what you've read for your partner.

Note: We are not adding commentary at this stage and you should try to simplify the language in the text.

Discussion

Had you heard of any of these events before today's class?

Which of the 4 stories do you find the most peculiar?

Which is the most disturbing?

Taking all four stories into account, what conclusions can you draw about mass hysteria?

Modern mass hysteria

Mass hysteria isn't just something that happened in the past. Many people believe that mass hysteria is even more popular today as online media pushes certain points of view (sensationalism = eyeballs). Others, however, argue that people use the term MASS HYSTERIA to silence people's legitimate concerns about real problems. Take a look at these cases - do you think they are examples of MASS HYSTERIA or are they legitimate concerns?

- White people are being replaced in Europe

- Covid was an experiment in mass control, either by accident or design

- Human activities cause global warming, which will lead to the extinction of humans

- Transgender rights movements are targeting children for political gain

- Leaders like Donald Trump are bringing fascism back

- Russia is coming to conquer large parts of Europe

- The Chinese are planning to take over the world

Online shock jocks

The USA has a tradition of SHOCK JOCKS - radio show hosts who use provocative language and controversial talking points to get attention. The granddady of shock jocks is a guy named Howard Stern.

Then we got the Internet and people were free to broadcast themselves without any radio show or media training at all.

Naturally, this created a bunch of crazy corners of the Internet, and there are arguably none crazier than Alex Jones.

Let's check out some of his GREATEST HITS.

Reactions

"Oh my God! He's SO right about everything! I love this guy! Where can I find more of his material?"

"This guy obviously isn't serious, and most of the people who listen to him obviously know that. It's just a bit of fun, like a comedy show."

"This guy is a danger and he should not be allowed to spread such obvious lies. He's clearly hateful and possibly psychotic. He should either be arrested or locked up in a psych ward."

"This guy is just exercising his freedom of speech. Sure, what he says is proabably nonsense, but in a free society, people should be allowed to express their views, even if they are ridiculous."

What's your reaction?

Do you know anyone like him?