Is the human brain life’s biggest mystery? Panic at Heathrow over an imagined chemical spill shows that social contagion can still cause harm.
Airport shutdown case of ‘mass hysteria’
Public paranoia: Mass hysteria, as seen in the medieval dancing plague of Strasbourg, the convulsive fits of biting nuns, and the paranoia of the Salem witch trials, can also manifest in modern times, as seen in the recent panicked evacuations at Heathrow Airport (top left). Comprehension quiz
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The word “psychogenic” in this context means:
A: Caused by a virus
B: Caused by the mind
C: Caused by loud noises
D: Caused by a chemical spill
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Which word is the closest synonym for “delusions”?
A: True thoughts
B: Real feelings
C: False beliefs
D: Scary dreams
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What caused the terminal at Heathrow Airport to be shut down?
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What is a “mass psychogenic illness”?
A: A sickness that spreads quickly due to a virus.
B: When a group of people feel the same symptoms without a real cause.
C: A serious mental illness that can be treated with medication.
D: An illness that only affects people who are very stressed.
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The article provides several historical examples of “mass hysteria.” Name one of the examples mentioned.
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What does Professor Sir Simon Wessely believe should be done before blaming a mystery sickness on “social contagion”?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. B, 2. C, 3. The terminal was shut down because 21 people became ill after smelling an unusual odour, and staff feared there had been a chemical spill., 4. B, 5. The article mentions three historical examples., 6. That doctors should eliminate other possible causes for the sickness, such as a real toxic substance or infectious disease, before deciding that the cause is a delusion.
1. B, 2. C, 3. The terminal was shut down because 21 people became ill after smelling an unusual odour, and staff feared there had been a chemical spill., 4. B, 5. The article mentions three historical examples., 6. That doctors should eliminate other possible causes for the sickness, such as a real toxic substance or infectious disease, before deciding that the cause is a delusion.
Glossary
Noxious - Poisonous or very unpleasant.
Psychogenic - Originating from or caused by a mental state or condition, rather than a physical one.
Delusions - Believing something even though it is clearly not true.
Hysteria - A state of uncontrollable emotional excess, such as overwhelming fear or excitement, leading to irrational behaviour or a loss of control.
Toxin - A poisonous substance that is produced by a living organism, such as a plant, animal, or bacterium.
Positive Feedback Loop - A process where the result of an action amplifies or reinforces that same action, causing a cycle of increasing change in the same direction.