Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode of Stuff You Should Know explores collective hysteria, also known as mass psychogenic disorder, examining real outbreaks where people manifest physical symptoms without any environmental toxin or pathogen present. Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant discuss historical events like the medieval dancing mania and Salem witchcraft trials, alongside modern cases such as boarding school outbreaks in Mexico and unexplained symptoms in Tennessee and New York. They break down the mechanisms behind these events, including the nocebo effect, the role of media and medical response in exacerbating outbreaks, and the challenge physicians face in balancing transparency with patient outcomes.
Defining Mass Psychogenic Disorderinsight
The hosts explain why the term collective hysteria carries objectionable gender-specific connotations and prefer mass psychogenic disorder, noting that those affected manifest real physical symptoms.
The Chalco Boarding School Outbreakstory
Jacob Silverman documented an outbreak at a girls' boarding school in Chalco, Mexico, where hundreds of students experienced vomiting, fever, and trouble walking.
Understanding the Nocebo Effectinsight
The hosts contrast the placebo effect with the nocebo effect, where expecting a negative result leads to real symptoms like nausea or allergic reactions.
Electromagnetic Sensitivity Casesstory
A health spa manager in London named Debbie Burd painted her house black, rewired it, and sleeps under a silver net due to an alleged allergy to electromagnetic fields.
Blocking Pain via Hormonesdata
Researchers discovered that the nocebo effect releases cholecystokinin, a hormone that facilitates pain, and blocking it can stop pain hypersensitivity.
The New Zealand Pill Outbreakstory
When the manufacturer of a widespread hormone replacement drug changed its pill's appearance, adverse effect reports increased 2,000-fold over a year and a half due to media attention.
The Le Roy Tourette's Outbreakstory
Following a student's Tourette's diagnosis in Corinth, New York, 14 other students began exhibiting similar involuntary twitches and vocalizations.
The Strasbourg Dancing Plaguestory
In 1518, a woman began dancing in the streets of Strasbourg, France, and within a month, about 100 people joined her, with some dying from exhaustion and stroke.
Throughout the history of the world, there have been many cases of what is known as collective hysteria - groups of people, usually young women, who all exhibit the same physical symptoms of non-existent conditions. Is it psychosomatic? Is it group think? See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8,568 words · 8 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated