It is a psychological disorder in which a group of people start to have, at the same time, a strange behavior or become ill without an apparent cause. Outbreaks of collective hysteria, also known as mass psychogenic illness, are more frequent in closed groups, such as students from the same school or workers in a company, although it also affects the general population. The disease makes people more anxious and lose control over acts and emotions, in addition to boosting the senses, such as touch, smell, taste, etc. Even if this is all in the head, “hysterics” even show symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, weakness, fainting and shortness of breath.
There are records of group outbreaks of illness, laughter and dancing since the Middle Ages.
MEXICAN CHILIQUE
hysterics – Teenagers at a Catholic boarding school
Where – Mexico City
When – 2006
A group of girls began to have, at the same time, weakness, limited mobility, fever, nausea and fainting. Upon returning from vacation, the disease spread further. In total, 600 of the 3,600 inmates showed signs of the disease, which, according to the authorities, had no organic cause.
ALIEN ATTACK
hysterics – Residents
Where – Colares Island, Pará
When – 1977
Reports of lights coming from space to suck human blood impressed entire families. In a short time, several people claimed to have been persecuted and more than 80 reported physical sequels of what would be ET attacks. The Air Force assigned officers to investigate the case.
MEDIEVAL RAVE
hysterics – Residents
Where – Strasbourg, France
When – 1518
A woman, named Frau Troffea, started dancing through the streets, without music or apparent reason. After a week, a hundred people had joined her, and a month later, there were 400 hysterical dancers. Within a few weeks, the weakest began to die from heart attacks and strokes.
CONTAGIOUS LAUGHTER
hysterics – Residents
Where – Tanganyika, Tanzania
When – 1962
The kids started laughing out of nowhere at school and it even spread to their parents. The nonsense laughter reached neighbors and thousands of people, who laughed for six months. The epidemic, analyzed in an article in the International Journal of Research on Humor, caused pain, breathing difficulties and crying attacks.
PANIC AT THE AIRPORT
hysterics – Passengers and airport staff
Where – Melbourne, Australia
When – 2005
An employee fainted next to the escalator. Then two other women got sick and blacked out. The air conditioning was turned off for fear of a gas attack, but it didn’t help. More people fell ill and nearly 50 were taken to hospital.
SOURCES – A Time to Dance, a Time to Die, by John Waller; International Journal of Humor Research, BBC News, Asian Economic News and Terra portal