|
|
|
|
|
Collective HysteriaIn psychology collective hysteria is the name given to a phenomenon of the manifestation of the same hysterical symptoms by more than one person. It normally begins when an individual shows a hysteric manifestation in front of others who "contagiously" acquire the same symptoms. Examples include cases of accidents in which people act "irrationally", screaming, running in the wrong direction, etc; cases in which a person who is suspected of a crime is caught by a group and one of the members throws a stone or gives the first kick, and the rest join the action; etc. Writer Jerome Clark--while recognizing that mass panic can undoubtedly be genuine and widespread--argues that mass hysteria can be a classic blame-the-victim strategy in cases where authorities or experts can find no explanation for puzzling or frightening events. See also Sources - Jerome Clark, Unexplained! 347 Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena, Visible Ink Press, 1993.
External links
|
 |
|
| Copyright 2005-2009 OnPedia.com. All Rights Reserved |
|
|