I have heard of this incident, and when suddenly the number of girls who think they are in the wrong body dramatically increased I couldn't help thinking that that was the latest manifestation of this phenomenon.
It will be interesting to see what comes out of that over time. Is it social mirroring? Experimentation now that it’s not as taboo? Young people are at the center of the mass hysteria examples I’ve read about. I have to think that if it’s purely psychological, it must be developmental in some way. There’s layers to it to be sure.
Well, people's brains aren't fully developed until they're around 25. The bit that evaluates risk is the last, or around the last, to develop. So it's not surprising that it's mainly young people affected when you look at it like that. But girls seem to be more prone to it than boys: not sure if that's just a reflection of what's reported, or if it's objectively true -- in which case, why?
I hadn’t heard of it either. It was briefly referenced in a book I was reading on witch hunts and when I looked it up I was floored. Probably because it happened so recently.
Wow, never heard of this incident, and it's definitely bizarre. I think humanity in particular is prone to incidents of mass hysteria, and it has manifested itself in numerous ways throughout history. These are certainly extreme examples, and i wonder if you're not onto something in linking an environmental factor. I think there was a theory years ago that some of the witch panics and dancing crazes coincided with conditions that would have promoted ergotism in barley crops. Maybe the right combination of psychological stressors and environmental agents can spark something like that off?
I have to think environment has an effect. Otherwise it’s hard to explain the communal nature of these events. But maybe humans are truly that social. We certainly see that in cults...I could go crazy thinking about it.
I have heard of this incident, and when suddenly the number of girls who think they are in the wrong body dramatically increased I couldn't help thinking that that was the latest manifestation of this phenomenon.
It will be interesting to see what comes out of that over time. Is it social mirroring? Experimentation now that it’s not as taboo? Young people are at the center of the mass hysteria examples I’ve read about. I have to think that if it’s purely psychological, it must be developmental in some way. There’s layers to it to be sure.
Well, people's brains aren't fully developed until they're around 25. The bit that evaluates risk is the last, or around the last, to develop. So it's not surprising that it's mainly young people affected when you look at it like that. But girls seem to be more prone to it than boys: not sure if that's just a reflection of what's reported, or if it's objectively true -- in which case, why?
Hadn’t heard of this incident. Fascinating read. Thank you!!
I hadn’t heard of it either. It was briefly referenced in a book I was reading on witch hunts and when I looked it up I was floored. Probably because it happened so recently.
Do you suspect mass hysteria can pass through our phones? Social media? Kind of spooky concept.
Yes! And I have a case that proves it.
Wow, never heard of this incident, and it's definitely bizarre. I think humanity in particular is prone to incidents of mass hysteria, and it has manifested itself in numerous ways throughout history. These are certainly extreme examples, and i wonder if you're not onto something in linking an environmental factor. I think there was a theory years ago that some of the witch panics and dancing crazes coincided with conditions that would have promoted ergotism in barley crops. Maybe the right combination of psychological stressors and environmental agents can spark something like that off?
I have to think environment has an effect. Otherwise it’s hard to explain the communal nature of these events. But maybe humans are truly that social. We certainly see that in cults...I could go crazy thinking about it.