In “Hysteria: The History of a Disease,” Ilza Veith states, “…many, if not most, of the witches as well as a great number of their victims described therein were simply hysterics who suffered from partial anaesthesia, mutism, blindness and convulsions, and, above all, from a variety of sexual delusions.” In “The Role of Psychological Variables in Mass Hysteria,” Mareesa Dannielle explains that Veith’s idea “asserts that mass hysteria during the witch-hunts was individual hysteria expressed collectively.” Dannielle also explains, “Mass hysteria sometimes appears to be the last coping resource for a community in distress… Enclosed settings seem to be very favorable to outbreaks of hysteria, especially when rigid discipline… are imposed.” Salem was a relatively small and strict community that was mostly isolated from its neighbors. When combining these factors with superstition of natural disasters and large amount of stress, they manifest as mass hysteria, as claimed by both Veith and
In “Hysteria: The History of a Disease,” Ilza Veith states, “…many, if not most, of the witches as well as a great number of their victims described therein were simply hysterics who suffered from partial anaesthesia, mutism, blindness and convulsions, and, above all, from a variety of sexual delusions.” In “The Role of Psychological Variables in Mass Hysteria,” Mareesa Dannielle explains that Veith’s idea “asserts that mass hysteria during the witch-hunts was individual hysteria expressed collectively.” Dannielle also explains, “Mass hysteria sometimes appears to be the last coping resource for a community in distress… Enclosed settings seem to be very favorable to outbreaks of hysteria, especially when rigid discipline… are imposed.” Salem was a relatively small and strict community that was mostly isolated from its neighbors. When combining these factors with superstition of natural disasters and large amount of stress, they manifest as mass hysteria, as claimed by both Veith and