New Books in Psychology

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

Dec 29, 2024

Marc Schuilenburg, a criminology professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, explores the pervasive nature of hysteria in modern society. He discusses how media shapes our fears surrounding crime and safety, framing public reactions historically linked to women's issues. By examining consumer behavior, he highlights the exaggerated responses to crises like pandemics and immigration. Schuilenburg argues that this cultural hysteria may hinder community engagement but can also serve as a catalyst for social change.

45:11

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Marc Schuilenburg

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Quick takeaways

Hysteria has evolved from a historical medical diagnosis into a pervasive societal phenomenon fueled by emotional responses to crises like COVID-19.

While often seen negatively, expressions of hysteria can mobilize collective action and drive social change, especially regarding issues like gender equality.

Deep dives

The Hysteria Phenomenon

Hysteria, a term historically associated with women's emotional expressions, has transcended its medical origins to represent broader societal emotions. The dismissal of hysteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM) in the late 1980s highlighted its stigma and the shift towards evidence-based approaches in psychology. Despite its medical erasure, contemporary society is rife with manifestations of hysteria, particularly observed during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and other moments of social tension. This shift requires a sociological analysis, revealing that the underlying frustrations often stem from societal changes, even as public perception remains steeped in emotional responsiveness.

Intro

3min

Blending Philosophy and Empirical Research in Sociological Analysis

2min

Cultural Hysteria: A Historical Perspective

13min

Hysteria: A Shift from Medical to Business Model in Public Discourse

4min

Public Hysteria and Consumer Behavior

5min

Hysteria and Governance: A Community's Struggle

14min

According to the medical world, hysteria is a thing of the past, an outdated diagnosis that has disappeared for good.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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