New Books in Sociology

Marc Schuilenburg, "Hysteria: Crime, Media, and Politics" (Routledge, 2021)

Dec 29, 2024

Marc Schuilenburg, a Professor at Erasmus University and an expert in digital surveillance, shares profound insights from his book on the persistent nature of hysteria in modern society. He argues that our culture, fraught with media frenzy and heightened alarmism, cultivates a collective emotional state that influences politics and public safety discussions. Exploring the intersection of crime, media, and public perception, he highlights how irrational responses are often shaped by media narratives, ultimately questioning the impact of this hysteria on community well-being and governance.

45:11

Episode guests

Marc Schuilenburg

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Quick takeaways

Hysteria is not just a clinical diagnosis but reflects collective emotional responses to societal issues, highlighting group dynamics in modern life.

Political discourse often amplifies hysteria by using alarmist language, which fosters a culture of fear rather than addressing actual public safety concerns.

Deep dives

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Intro

3min

Exploring Hysteria: A Societal Lens

15min

Hysteria in Politics: A Sociological Perspective

4min

Media Influence and Public Perception

5min

Hysteria and Governance in Hillesluis

12min

Exploring Ethical Dimensions of Digital Surveillance and Algorithms

2min

According to the medical world, hysteria is a thing of the past, an outdated diagnosis that has disappeared for good. Hysteria: Crime, Media, and Politics (Routledge, 2021) argues that hysteria is in fact alive and well.

Hyperventilating, we rush from one incident into the next - there is hardly time for a breather. From the worldwide run on toilet paper to cope with coronavirus fears to the overheated discussions about immigration and overwrought reactions to the levels of crime and disorder around us, we live in a culture of hysteria. While hysteria is typically discussed in emotional terms - as an obstacle to be overcome - it nevertheless has very real consequences in everyday life. Irritating though this may be, hysteria needs to be taken seriously, for what it tells us about our society and way of life. That is why Marc Schuilenburg examines what hysteria is and why it is fuelled by a culture that not only abuses, but also encourages and rewards it.

Written in a clear and direct style, this book will appeal to students and scholars of sociology, criminology, philosophy and all those interested in hysteria and how it permeates late modern society.

Geert Slabbekoorn works as an analyst in the field of public security. In addition he has published on different aspects of dark web drug trade in Belgium. Find him on twitter, tweeting all things drug related @GeertJS.

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