Mass hysteria happens when large groups of people share irrational fears, beliefs, or behaviors, often fueled by rumors, anxiety, or social pressure. Psychologists link it to social contagion, confirmation bias, and the power of authority figures or cultural myths. With no scientific understanding of psychology, disease, or social pressure, people turned to pseudoscientific explanations like demonic possession in Salem in 1692. This is a classic example of mass hysteria fueled by fear of the supernatural, religious extremism, and pseudoscientific “tests”. The court relied on spectral evidence (testimony that a person’s spirit appeared to the victim in dreams or visions) which was pseudoscientific “proof” since it couldn’t be verified or tested.
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