The Cause Of Mass Hysteria In The United States
Mass hysteria has plagued society for centuries, whether through religious, cultural or medical reasoning. Even society today goes through phases of fear of the unknown. Throughout history, mass hysteria has taken root at specific points in civilization and is usually caused by a tragedy or some form of cultural acceptance. Usually this fear is mandated by the leader of a particular group, and the majority of the group volunteers to isolate the minorities of the group. This is used in order to make themselves believe that they have solved the issue, while in reality all they’ve done is found a scapegoat. Today, the form of mass hysteria that is most prevalent takes form in our country’s fear of Islamics. This fear Americans have created stems …show more content…
A common type of mass hysteria occurs when people believe they are suffering from the same disease as others, which can be called a mass psychological illness. The term mass hysteria can also be used to describe a spontaneous manifestation of the same or closely similar symptoms by more than one person. (Hunter) These types of situations will begin with a key event that sets off other events and/or people to act in a similar way or be more aware of the symptoms …show more content…
The Salem Witch Trials are one of the most well-known examples of mass hysteria. (Lusted). What led to the 20 deaths as a result of Salem was the strain on the community beforehand. What is known as an Atmosphere of Intolerance (Lusted), The strict Puritan belief that was the religion of Salem at the time period on top of other stressful events such as coexisting with Native Americans leads to a very stressful and paranoid environment. The play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller explains thoroughly a sample case from that time period. It explains how the community in Salem went from a peaceful town to a place of execution of innocents (Miller). Miller’s depiction of how the “witches” were chosen was a direct comparison to the blacklisting done by Sen. McCarthy around that time. Miller was one of those that were blacklisted. Miller did not protest McCarthy’s policy directly because he was fearful of being known as a Communist, which would put him out of business and potentially give him jail
Mass Hysteria In Upstate New York Summary
279 Words | 2 Pages“Mass Hysteria in Upstate New York” The general argument made by Ruth Graham in “Mass Hysteria in Upstate New York” is that cases of large groups of people becoming suddenly ill have surfaced because of a massive panic occurring. More specifically, Graham reasons that a large group of teenage girls experienced Tourette’s like symptoms due to mass hysteria. Graham writes, “Typically, symptoms-which can include Brownell’s Tourette’s-like movements, along with nausea, dizziness, cramping, and more-start with one or two victims and spread when others see or hear about them” (1).
Dbq Salem Witch Trial Hysteria
329 Words | 2 PagesHow was the idea of a witch created or thought of? It started when two girls asked an Indian woman their fortune. Their reverend father noticed odd behavior, and as the result of a testimony, the first three woman were sent to jail. After that there were more accusations of people being witches. But what made people believe or know that another was a witch?
Difference Between Red Scare Panic And Hysteria
369 Words | 2 PagesRed Scare panic and hysteria began in 1919-1920’s after WWI. Thanks to the Red Scare, the American public became paranoid and suspicious of everyone from Communist Russian. In some cases, neighbors would report neighbors as being Communist spies just because they did not like their neighbor. The modern day terrorism The anti-Muslim panic and hysteria arose after terrorists came to the United States as normal immigrants and used the American education system to train themselves to be aircraft pilots and got support money from those already in the United Sates began with the attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. Both are the reactions of the American public to acts of war.
How Did The Salem Witch Trials Result Of Mass Hysteria
1126 Words | 5 PagesDuring the Salem Witch Trials, which were a series of witchcraft trials that took place in 1692 in Massachusetts, nearly 19 people were executed by hanging and 200 people were accused of witchcraft with various consequences. There are several theories surrounding the causes of the Witch Trials, but most historians agree that they were a result of mass hysteria within the population of Salem and other surrounding towns. The circumstances that contributed to the mass hysteria surrounding the Massachusetts Salem Witch Trials of 1692 include ergot poisoning, family rivalries, and a strong belief in the occult. Each of these theories are very real explanations which could have contributed to the events in Salem, although none of these events have
How Did Salem Witch Trials Cause Mass Hysteria
972 Words | 4 PagesIn 1692, the colonial town of Salem Massachusetts exploded with craziness, and had accused over 200 people of witchcraft, and executed 19 of them. The event was nothing compared to other witch trials around the world, yet even 300 years later, people are still talking about it. It is so well known because of the panic that really defined that time in history. But what caused the mass hysteria surrounding the Salem Witch Trials? It was a horrible combination of high tensions due to the hard times people of Salem were going through, and fear of the Devil.
Examples Of Scapegoats In The Crucible
1269 Words | 6 PagesAlso like what happen after 9/11 with the muslims, people were always frantic whenever they heard about islamic faith or muslims in general since people thought of terrorist. With the three connected they all had mass hysteria after innocent groups of people were blamed for something they haven't even done and paying for other people's mistakes and problems not their
Fear Of Mccarthyism In The Crucible By Arthur Miller
1152 Words | 5 PagesMass hysterics follow the paranoia, quickly everyone launches into a frenzy, confess witchcraft and blame someone else, their only way out. But sometimes, mass hysteria looks different. In this quote Burbano, a victim and survivor of the Pulse shooting, shows how quickly the hysteria took over. “In the confusion of the dark, packed club, people dropped to the ground and hid in bathrooms. Many started to run for the exits, grabbing friends and strangers along the way.
Summary Of Scott Bonn's Analysis Of Moral Panic
1817 Words | 8 PagesAnalyzing both historical and modern societal examples of mass hysteria, Small details the contributing factors of mass hysteria including: psychological stress, anxiety, and group pressure. Small remarks that in a state of panic or hysteria, humans tend to misread normal and often logical manifestations such as stomach pain or scratches on their vehicles as something much more severe, even more so when they are in a situation where groupthink is prevalent. This article goes on to remark the impact of hierarchy on mass hysteria as the public is more likely to follow, trust and agree with their leader. Small deduces that the physical manifestations of mass hysteria originate from an environment in which group dynamics are prevalent, concluding that it has the potential to appear anywhere in
Mental Illness In The Salem Witch Trials
1149 Words | 5 PagesNineteen people were hung due to false judgement by human nature and society. Taking place in a small village called Salem, inside of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, during a depressing seventeenth century, was a movement that would challenge the nation’s religious and psychological beliefs. Innocent people were being accused of witchcraft, when rather they were just ill or not taken care of properly by family and friends. Thought to be caused by stress, fear, and panic, the Salem Witch Trials was an event that changed the nation’s view on mental illness because of false assumptions and mischievous behavior. The Salem Witch Trials was a series of false accusations of witchcraft taking place in Salem, which during the seventeenth century, was apart of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Does Abigail Williams Cause Mass Hysteria In The Crucible
875 Words | 4 PagesDuring the late 17th century a total of 200 people were accused of participating in witchcraft, while 19 people lost their lives to the mass hysteria. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, a group of girls start a huge uproar in Salem, Massachusetts when they start screeching about Salemites being associated with the Devil. Throughout the play write, it shows the consequences of mass hysteria and how it puts people's lives in danger. Abigail Williams causes a wave of mass hysteria and because of her trickery, innocent people have died by her and the other girl’s actions, for this Abigail is the most unforgivable character in The Crucible.
Mental Illness In Salem Witch Trials
1205 Words | 5 PagesMental Illness in Salem Witch Trials Introduction Witchcraft is the practice of magic and the use of spells and the invocation of spirits. According to Salem Witch Trials, 2015, the Salem witch trials began during the spring of 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem, Massachusetts claimed to have been bewitched by several adults in the town. More than 150 people were accused and hung, including men, women, and children (Salem Witch Trials, 2015). There were three girls in particular that sparked the trials: Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, and Ann Putnam. Also stated in Salem Witch Trials, their behaviors changed drastically; they began to hallucinate, shout in church, have fits, not eat, not wake up, attempt to fly, and feel as if they
Salem Witch Trials Rhetorical Analysis
1066 Words | 5 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials; Madness or Logic In Stacey Schiff’s, List of 5 Possible Causes of the Salem Witch Trials and Shah Faiza’s, THE WITCHES OF SALEM; Diabolical doings in a Puritan village, discuss in their articles what has been debated by so many historians for years, the causes of the Salem Witch trials. Schiff and the Faiza, purpose is to argue the possible religious, scientific, communal, and sociological reasons on why the trials occurred. All while making word by word in the writer’s testimony as if they were there through emotion and just stating simply the facts and theories. They adopt the hectic tone in order to convey to the readers the significance, tragedy, logic, loss, and possible madness behind these life changing events,
The Crucible: Theme Of Hysteria In Everyday Life And Society
481 Words | 2 PagesMiller conveys his point that allowing selfishness and fear to consume society can be devastating and harmful to life through his use of the witch trials and the mass hysteria that occurs during
What Is The Cause Of Hysteria In The Crucible
1451 Words | 6 PagesFear that spread among a group of people in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials, that event in history is a prime example of Mass Hysteria. In Salem the reason why so many women were killed was because of Mass Hysteria. It caused many people, in Salem during this event to think fast, rash and jump to conclusions. “The Crucible”, a short play dedicated to these events in Salem shows us how hysteria was such a leading cause of why the Witch Trials had even occurred. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth.
Cause And Effect Of Terrorism Essay
705 Words | 3 PagesTerrorism causes fear all across the world. People are terrified because of what happens in these attacks. There are many different kinds of fear caused by terrorist attacks. Some react to these attacks differently than others. Many react to these attacks in a constructive and rational matter, this helps to not give the terrorists what they want.
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