Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Veil of Fire · 04-30-2002, 01:14 PM

Could someone explain these concepts to me? They confuse me greatly. Mass hallucination more so than mass hysteria.

The bit that confuses me is, how can people share a hallucination? Are thought waves contagious somehow? The picture is solely within somebody's head, and no two people think alike or percieve things in the same way, especially not things that only exist in their heads.

So I'm confused. Can anyone help me understand this concept?

Christopher Lord · 04-30-2002, 03:50 PM

If everyone in a room is fawning and raving about something, peopel feel the need to fit in.

Its much like people who enter an elevator wherein all inside are facing the far wall instead of the door. Most people in fact join them in the absurd position so as to fit in.

mass hallucinations are much the same. they all think everyone else is having these intense images, so when prompted the make up something which fits in with the group picture, and over many such conversations the entire image is fleshed out. so in effect, they fawn and faint, and then later they collectively flesh it out. if they are not permitted to speak after the event, the stories would be widely divergent.

butswana · 05-01-2002, 09:04 AM

The recent monkey-man incident in India comes to mind.

Friar Bellows · 05-01-2002, 01:02 PM

Most people feel an intense need to belong. I wonder if sheep experience mass hallucinations?

daemon · 05-01-2002, 01:31 PM

(Right off, I feel I should note that I can't verify this story, as I have forgotten the source. Anyone know where I got this from?)

One example I read of a mass hallucination was actually purposefully induced: a schoolteacher was giving his students a lesson in psychological effects, and had them perform an experiment where several, during recess, would point at a tree and insist they saw a light hovering in the branches. When they did this, other children promptly began claiming to see it as well, giving all sorts of details--movement, color changes, etc. Several teachers apparently were caught up as well, insisting they also saw the hovering light.

It's odd behavior, to say the least. I'm not entirely certain as to why such things occur, but it does appear to be a real phenomenon.

04-30-2002, 01:14 PM	#1
Veil of Fire Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 451	Mass Hallucinations/Mass Hysteria Could someone explain these concepts to me? They confuse me greatly. Mass hallucination more so than mass hysteria. The bit that confuses me is, how can people share a hallucination? Are thought waves contagious somehow? The picture is solely within somebody's head, and no two people think alike or percieve things in the same way, especially not things that only exist in their heads. So I'm confused. Can anyone help me understand this concept?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-30-2002, 03:50 PM	#2
Christopher Lord Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 808	If everyone in a room is fawning and raving about something, peopel feel the need to fit in. Its much like people who enter an elevator wherein all inside are facing the far wall instead of the door. Most people in fact join them in the absurd position so as to fit in. mass hallucinations are much the same. they all think everyone else is having these intense images, so when prompted the make up something which fits in with the group picture, and over many such conversations the entire image is fleshed out. so in effect, they fawn and faint, and then later they collectively flesh it out. if they are not permitted to speak after the event, the stories would be widely divergent.

05-01-2002, 09:04 AM	#3
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	The recent monkey-man incident in India comes to mind.

05-01-2002, 01:02 PM	#4
Friar Bellows Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: arse-end of the world Posts: 2,305	Most people feel an intense need to belong. I wonder if sheep experience mass hallucinations?

05-01-2002, 01:31 PM	#5
daemon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 737	(Right off, I feel I should note that I can't verify this story, as I have forgotten the source. Anyone know where I got this from?) One example I read of a mass hallucination was actually purposefully induced: a schoolteacher was giving his students a lesson in psychological effects, and had them perform an experiment where several, during recess, would point at a tree and insist they saw a light hovering in the branches. When they did this, other children promptly began claiming to see it as well, giving all sorts of details--movement, color changes, etc. Several teachers apparently were caught up as well, insisting they also saw the hovering light. It's odd behavior, to say the least. I'm not entirely certain as to why such things occur, but it does appear to be a real phenomenon.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.