MAD GASSERS & MASS HYSTERIA

Paul Giamatti’s CHINWAG with Stephen Asma

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Paul and Stephen strive to understand the phenomenon of mass panic and incidences of collective delusion throughout history.

Learn the difference between mass panic and mass hysteria, how our minds influence our physical reactions, and the power of the media in escalating these events. What caused the hysteria that surrounded the Beatles and Elvis, or the outbreak of panic after the infamous Orson Welles radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds?

Paul knows a thing or two about the “Mad Gasser of Mattoon” (look it up!), dancing manias in the Middle Ages, uncontrollable contagious laughing bouts, ergot poisoning, and the little-known Seattle windshield-pitting epidemic of 1954. Stephen takes a left turn into porn (we’ll let him explain) and flexes theoretical causes like socio political stressors, media and cultural influence, and of course, mirror neurons. It all comes back around to Havana Syndrome, psychogenic phenomena, and wait for it, PENIS THEFT.

Paul Giamatti is an award-winning actor and producer. Stephen Asma is a professor and author specializing in the philosophy of science, religion, and art.

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