Little Green Men, Meowing Nuns and Head-Hunting Panics

A Study of Mass Psychogenic Illness and Social Delusion

Häftad, Engelska, 2001

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"For a two week period in 1956, residents in the vicinity of Taipei, Taiwan, lived in fear that they would be the next victims of a crazed villain who was prowling the streets and slashing people at random with a razor or similar weapon. At least 21 victims were reported during this period, mostly women and children of low income and education." A thorough investigation revealed however, that: "five slashings were innocent false reports, seven were self-inflicted cuts, eight were due to cuts rather than razors, and one was complete fantasy."This is one example of many cases of what has traditionally been called "mass hysteria" that are examined in this comprehensive study of human beings' fear of the unknown. Beginning with a concise history of mass hysteria and social delusions, the author differentiates between the two and investigates mass hysteria in closed settings such as work and school, and mass hysteria in communities with incidents such as gassings, Pokemon illnesses in Japan, and medieval dance crazes. Also examined are collective delusions, with information on five major types: immediate threat, symbolic scare, mass wish fulfillment, urban legends and mass panics. The book ends with a discussion of major issues in the area of mass hysteria and a look toward the future of this intriguing subject.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2001-06-06
Mått152 x 229 x 15 mm
Vikt413 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor303
FörlagMcFarland & Co Inc
ISBN9780786409976

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Table of ContentsForeword Preface SECTION ONE: OVERVIEW 1. Mass Hysteria and Social Delusions SECTION TWO: MASS HYSTERIA IN CLOSED SETTINGS 2. Epidemic Hysteria in Schools 3. Epidemic Hysteria at Work SECTION THREE: MASS HYSTERIA IN COMMUNITIES 4. The Mad Gasser of Virginia 5. The Mad Gasser of Mattoon 6. Pokémon TV Show Sickens Thousands in Japan 7. Rethinking the Medieval Dancing Mania SECTION FOUR: COLLECTIVE DELUSIONS 8. Penis Panics 9. Imaginary Air Raids on Canada 10. The Phantom Sniper of Esher, England 11. The Ghost Rockets 12. The Wish Mania as a Moral Panic in Reverse 13. Before Roswell 14. The Martian Invasion Panic SECTION FIVE: MAJOR ISSUES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS 15. From Demon Possession to Environmental Fears Notes Index