Mass hysteria

phenomenon that transmits collective illusions of threats, whether real or imaginary, through a population in society as a result of rumors and fear

Mass hysteria or mass psychological illness is a phenomenon when a large group of people share a common emotion. This emotion can be positive, such as people being euphoric at a rock concert, or it can be negative, like after a great person or statesman died. It was first used by the Quarteerly Christian Spectator in 1830, to describe an outbreak of cholera.[1]

Dancing plagues of the Middle Ages are thought to have been caused by mass hysteria

References change

  1. The Journal of Health Conducted by an Association of Physicians (1831) p. 180