"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.

Little Green Men, Meowing Nuns and Head-Hunting Panics: A Study of Mass Psychogenic Illness and Social Delusion

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Bartholomew, Robert E.

Psychology & Counseling

McFarland Company

History is replete with examples of media-created scares and panics. This book presents more than three dozen studies of media scares from the 17th century to the 21st century, including hoaxes perpetrated via newspapers, radio, television and cyberspace. From the 1835 batmen on the Moon hoax to more recent bird flu scares and Hurricane Katrina myths, this book explores hoaxes that highlight the impact of the media on our lives and its tendency to sensationalize. Most of the hoaxes covered occurred in the United States, though incidents from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australia are featured as well. Several are global in scope, revealing the power global media wields.

The Martians Have Landed!: A History of Media-Driven Panics and Hoaxes

History

Radford, Benjamin

Americas

This book comprehensively surveys the colorful history of mass hysteria and kindred phenomena in schools--from outbreaks of demonic possession during witchcraft scares to twitching and shaking epidemics in 19th century European schools, to more contemporary incidents of collapsing bands, itching frenzies, ghost panics and mystery illnesses. The authors trace strange behaviors and illnesses in students through the centuries. Possessed children went into trance states and began to bark like dogs in 16th and 17th century Holland; an outbreak of Tourette's-like symptoms struck schoolgirls in western New York in 2011 and 2012. Many episodes are from the United States and separate chapters detail accounts from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. Some take issue with the term "mass hysteria" and consider its use derogatory to females but it remains entrenched in the scientific lexicon. Most reports in this book involve a preponderance of females: this may reflect the social conditioning of females and not any innate predisposition.

Mass Hysteria in Schools: A Worldwide History Since 1566

Rickard, Bob

This is a seminal study of Western psychiatric interpretations of some of the most bizarre behaviours so strange by modern Western standards that they are assumed to be illnesses of disorders - latah, koro, and dance "mania". Psychiatrists making these diagnoses draw heavily on Eurocentric values and assumptions. The book examines Otherness with an emphasis on Western understanding and acceptance, explaining that these behaviours are rational outcomes of unfamiliar symbol systems and worldviews and are a testament to the power of human imagination and creativity.

Exotic Deviance: Medicalizing Cultural Idioms-From Strangeness to Illness

Univ Pr of Colorado

This is a seminal study of Western psychiatric interpretations of some of the most bizarre behaviours so strange by modern Western standards that they are assumed to be illnesses of disorders - latah, koro, and dance "mania". Psychiatrists making these diagnoses draw heavily on Eurocentric values and assumptions. The book examines Otherness with an emphasis on Western understanding and acceptance, explaining that these behaviours are rational outcomes of unfamiliar symbol systems and worldviews and are a testament to the power of human imagination and creativity.

Exotic Deviance: Medicalizing Cultural Idioms

For over thirty years, two New York State brothers, Robert and Paul Bartholomew, have methodically researched, documented, and studied the Bigfoot question in both New York and the New England states. Does a hulking 7-foot-tall humanlike creature, unrecognized by science, roam the green, fertile valleys and lush forests of New York and New England? Common sense tells us this is hardly possible — especially in the 21st Century. Nevertheless, we have a conundrum: how do we explain the hundreds of credible eyewitness accounts of such a creature that date back to native Indian lore and early European settlement? Commonly known as “Bigfoot” in the United States, and “Sasquatch” in Canada, this creature has become the greatest mystery in North America. For over thirty years, two New York State brothers, Robert and Paul Bartholomew, have methodically researched, documented, and studied the Bigfoot question in both New York and the New England states. They have traveled extensively in these regions in a passionate quest to discover the truth behind the mystery. In this volume, Robert and Paul present the full history of the creature in New York and New England together with their analysis and conclusions. DOES BIGFOOT EXIST? The evidence presented here provides astounding new insights into this age-old question.

Bigfoot Encounters in New York

Literature & Fiction

Bartholomew, Paul B

Genre Fiction

Hancock House Publishers

Mass Hysteria: A Social History of the Strange

Hollowbrook Pub

This book presents the Champlain Monster like you have never seen him before. This warts and all biography of America's Loch Ness Monster by sociologist Robert Bartholomew breaks new ground by taking journalists to task for sloppy reporting, and criticizing local tourist bureaus for their singular focus on Champ Dollars. It presents the most complete history of Champ from Native American lore to the modern-day monster hunters; their egos, obsessions and behind-the-scenes squabbles. Also examined is whether the famous Mansi photo is a hoax, and weighs the evidence of the ultimate question: does Champ exist? Reviews: "I really loved the book, and got some valuable lecture material out of it for my Vermont history course. Just fascinating." -- Dr. Paul Searls, Department of History, Lyndon State College "Get ready for... [a] thought-provoking ride as Robert Bartholomew guides you through 400 years of facts, fantasy and controversy surrounding Champ.... Like any solid reporter, Bartholomew asks the tough questions. He draws you into the vortex of egos of the Champ researchers. He chides his media colleagues for sloppy reporting.... It's all in here, and more. -- Ronald Kermani, former senior investigative journalist, Albany Times-Union "...a comprehensive history of a cultural fixture in the northeast. Robert Bartholomew explores the background and development of a media favorite and a scientific controversy. Both believers and skeptics can profit from the solid research and fluid storytelling in The Untold Story of Champ." -- Dr. Stephen R. Whalen, Department of History, Castleton State College "The book provides a thorough exploration of the Champ tales told through the ages. Dr. Bartholomew assiduously weaves his way through the stories, myths, and legends that surround Champ." -- Mike Winslow, author of Lake Champlain: A Natural History and Staff Scientist "Bartholomew's study provides a meticulously researched overview of the historical context behind popular fascination with the Lake Champlain monster. The book effectively traces the vicissitudes of the creature's fame, rising and falling in accordance with external factors often unrelated to the ongoing string of perennial sightings. Bartholomew makes the subject come alive by carefully documenting the bitter rivalries between competing Champ researchers and by filling in the background stories for numerous Champ witnesses and enthusiasts. He shows that the creature is not simply a media sideshow, but a concept that has touched real people's lives very deeply." -- Dr. Peter Dendle, Associate Professor of English, Penn State University at Mont Alto and coeditor of The Ashgate Research Companion to Monsters and the Monstrous

The Untold Story of Champ: A Social History of America's Loch Ness Monster (Excelsior Editions)

Excelsior / State University of New York Press

We investigate seven of America's greatest hauntings; cases so compelling that they have been hailed as genuine by parapsychologists, and turned into major media productions in Hollywood. Just how accurate and reliable are media portrayals of these 'true life' hauntings, and how strong is the evidence supporting the original claims? We scrutinize the evidence behind such films as The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, An American Haunting, The Conjuring, and The Haunting in Connecticut. Also examined is the reliability of popular TV shows such as Unsolved Mysteries and Paranormal Witness.

American Hauntings: The True Stories behind Hollywood's Scariest Movies―from The Exorcist to The Conjuring

Humor & Entertainment

NICKELL, JOE

Movies

Praeger

The power of imagination, group psychology, and the concept of "fantasy prone personalities," are explored by Bartholomew and Howard as they probe the history of how UFO stories are spread. The impact of "collective delusion" enhanced by the media can be dangerous, leaving great pain and tragedy in its wake. Included are detailed descriptions of the United States airship flap of 1896-97; the imaginary sightings of Thomas Edison's "electric star" of the late 1800s; Canada's phantom balloon wave of 1896-97; the New Zealand zeppelin scare of 1909; the British UFO panic of 1912-13; phantom German air raids and spy missions over Canada, New York, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Africa during World War I; Sweden's ghost rocket crisis of 1946. These are all reports of UFOs before the famed Roswell incident and the emergence of flying saucers since 1947. The authors examine collective behavior, fallible human perception, deviance, religion, popular culture, history, the role of the media, and relationships to the paranormal. From alien contact with humans to well-organized cults, UFOs and Alien Contact is gripping, humorous, and at times horrifying.

UFOs & Alien Contact: Two Centuries of Mystery

Howard, George S.

Reference

Prometheus

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Bartholomew, Robert E.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Bartholomew, Robert E.