Bøker av Robert E. Bartholomew

This work provides an accurate, in-depth examination and scientific evaluation of the most famous hauntings in American history as depicted in popular films and television programs.

Surveys the rich, colourful history of mass hysteria and kindred phenomena in schools, from outbreaks of demonic possession during witchcraft scares to twitching and shaking epidemics that became common in nineteenth century European schools, to more contemporary incidents of collapsing bands, itching frenzies, ghost panics and 'mystery' illnesses. Robert Bartholomew and Robert Rickard trace mysterious outbreaks of strange behaviour and illness in students through the centuries.

Presents more than three dozen studies of media scares from the 17th century to the 21st century, including hoaxes perpetrated via newspapers, radio, television and cyberspace. From the 1835 Batmen-on-the-Moon hoax to more recent bird flu scares and Hurricane Katrina myths, it explores hoaxes that highlight the impact of the media on our lives and its tendency to sensationalize.

Beginning with a history of mass hysteria and social delusions, this work differentiates between the two and investigates mass hysteria in closed settings such as work and school, and mass hysteria in communities with incidents such as gassings, Pokemon illnesses in Japan and medieval dance.