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 “contagion” means:
A: Something different
B: The spread of something harmful
C: The taste of something poisonous
D: The smell of something old
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Which word is the closest synonym for “noxious” as used in this article?
A: Harmless
B: Pleasant
C: Delicious
D: Toxic
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Add the correct punctuation to this sentence:
Experts suggest it was a mass psychogenic illness
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According to the article, what happened at Heathrow Airport that caused people to panic?
A: A terrorist attack
B: A fire
C: An imagined chemical spill
D: A real chemical spill
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How did authorities in New York explain the twitching and spasms experienced by students at LeRoy High School?
A: They blamed a psychogenic illness made worse by social media.
B: They blamed a toxin in the building.
C: They blamed an infectious disease.
D: They blamed it on a lack of sleep.
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Why does Professor Sir Simon Wessely believe that social contagion should only be blamed as a “last resort”?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. B, 2. D, 3. Experts suggest it was a "mass psychogenic illness"., 4. C, 5. A, 6. He believes this because toxic substances and infectious diseases are real threats, and not every mystery can be blamed on the mind.
1. B, 2. D, 3. Experts suggest it was a "mass psychogenic illness"., 4. C, 5. A, 6. He believes this because toxic substances and infectious diseases are real threats, and not every mystery can be blamed on the mind.
Glossary
Noxious - Poisonous or very unpleasant.
Psychogenic - Originating from or caused by a mental state or condition, rather than a physical one.
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.
Delusions - Believing something even though it is clearly not true.
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.