By Robert Bartholomew and Peter Hassall > > Reviewed > > Although this was published six years ago, I think it is a classic reference book that will endure. It is available in some local libraries, including the Auckland public library. > > The previous survey, “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds” was published a long time ago now. It is a great companion reference for Lynley Hood's analysis “A City Possessed” on the Moral Panic in Christchurch surrounding the Peter Ellis case. > > I learnt several things of great interest to skeptics. For example: > > The moon hoax used pseudo-scientific terms and quoted a defunct journal. It gave a big boost in circulation to newspapers that published it. > > There was a case of anxiety hysteria in Auckland in 1973 about a smell coming from leaking drums in the Parnell wharf. Many people became ill until it was shown the substance in the drums was not poisonous. > > Medics (as in a Canadan case in 2004) can suffer from anxiety hysteria. You'd think their training might make them immune! > > Exorcism and religion can make things worse in cases of hysteria, due to excessive fear of bad spirits - as it strengthens belief in the imaginary causes of these delusions. > > Sometimes harsh conditions can trigger hysteria, and so a 'spirit' can speak out or 'cause' absenteeism from horrible institutions or work-places due to hysterical symptoms.Sometimes conditions improve as a result; whereas the victims in these institutions may not have been successful had they just protested. > > Self-mutilation can be an extreme way to gain attention, and can involve false accusations. > > False confessions are common during public moral panics. > > Sometimes, as with the Peron family case, psychiatric conditions are falsely reinterpreted as paranormal phenomena. > > Finally, skeptics have in some cases managed to help defuse panics by effectively debunking false beliefs. > > Look out for my next review, which will hopefully be on the book NOISE by Daniel Kahneman.
