There are many common causes and factors that contribute to mass hysteria, including anxiety, social contagion, ambiguity, cultural influences, and media impact. Some of the psychological mechanisms that underlie mass hysteria, are hypervigilance, cognitive dissonance, and group polarization as outlined in our text.

Answer the following questions and provide real world examples when relevant to help provide context.

• How do you think cognitive dissonance can contribute to mass hysteria?
• Why do you think people are more likely to experience hypervigilance during times of uncertainty?
• How might group polarization affect the intensity of mass hysteria?

Feel free to discuss recent (or historical) cases of mass hysteria from different parts of the world. If discussing recent cases, consider the ethical implications of media coverage and its potential to contribute to or alleviate mass hysteria.