Malaysia experienced a series of hysteria epidemics from 1962 to 1971. Twenty-nine schools, in predominantly rural areas, would erupt into mass hysterias. These often coincided with major social events or catastrophes.
One psychiatrist said he found a pattern: “The girls would scream, shout, and run aimlessly all over in terror” and complain about apparitions, such as “an ugly woman eight feet tall” or ghosts that would steal their underwear or their food. No physical cause for the upset was ever found. Each incident was probably a mass psychogenic illness – psychological in cause, not medical.
Recently, there have been more cases of mass hysteria in schools. They seem to be fanned by social media reports of apparitions. And the school authorities take them seriously, bringing in religious authorities, exorcists, and counselors. Unfortunately, these mass hysterias usually come in waves and Malaysia seems to be in the middle of another one.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário