Havana Syndrome - Robert W. Baloh, Robert E. Bartholomew

Havana Syndrome

Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria
Buch | Softcover
XVI, 194 Seiten
2020 | 1st ed. 2020
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-030-40745-2 (ISBN)
35,30 inkl. MwSt

It is one of the most extraordinary cases in the history of science:  the mating calls of insects were mistaken for a "sonic weapon" that led to a major diplomatic row.  Since August 2017, the world media has been absorbed in the "attack" on diplomats from the American and Canadian Embassies in Cuba.  While physicians treating victims have described it as a novel and perplexing condition that involves an array of complaints including brain damage, the authors present compelling evidence that mass psychogenic illness was the cause of "Havana Syndrome." 

This mysterious condition that has baffled experts is explored across 11-chapters which offer insights by a prominent neurologist and an expert on psychogenic illness.  A lively and enthralling read, the authors explore the history of similar scares from the 18th century belief that sounds from certain musical instruments were harmful to human health, to 19th century cases of "telephone shock," and more contemporary panics involving people living near wind turbines that have been tied to a variety of health complaints.  The authors provide dozens of examples of kindred episodes of mass hysteria throughout history, in addition to psychosomatic conditions and even the role of insects in triggering outbreaks. 

Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria is a scientific detective story and a case study in the social construction of mass psychogenic illness.


 

Robert W. Baloh, MD Professor of Neurology and Head and Neck Surgery David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles, CA, USA Robert E. Bartholomew, PhD Honorary Senior Lecturer Department of Psychological Medicine The University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand

1. Chasing Ghosts in Cuba.- 2. The Crisis Deepens.- 3. From Combat Syndromes to Havana Mystery Illness.- 4. Social Contagion Through the Ages: From St. Vitus Dance to Mystery Odors.- 5. Musical Illness and Telephone Sickness: An Early History of Sound and Suggestion.- 6. Modern-Day Acoustical Scares: From 'The Hum' to 'Wind Turbine Syndrome'.- 7. Phantom Assailants:  Of Mad Gassers and Phantom Slashers.- 8. A Short History of Spider, Insect and Worm Scares.- 9. State Terrorism Masquerading as Psychogenic Illness.- 10. 'Havana Syndrome' Solved:  Separating Science From Science Fiction.- 11. The Social Construction of 'Havana Syndrome'.

"A book for everyone interested in how scares and social panics start and spread, especially in our era of fake news and conspiracy theories." (Nigel Watson, Magonia review of books, pelicanist.blogspot.com, October 1, 2020)

"This is a brilliant exposition of how social panics evolve and escalate; every fortean should read it." (Nigel Watson, Fortean Times, forteantimes.com, August 26, 2020)


Erscheinungsdatum
Zusatzinfo XVI, 194 p.
Verlagsort Cham
Sprache englisch
Maße 155 x 235 mm
Gewicht 332 g
Themenwelt Sachbuch/Ratgeber Gesundheit / Leben / Psychologie
Schulbuch / Wörterbuch Lexikon / Chroniken
Medizin / Pharmazie Allgemeines / Lexika
Medizin / Pharmazie Medizinische Fachgebiete Neurologie
Medizin / Pharmazie Medizinische Fachgebiete Psychiatrie / Psychotherapie
Schlagworte Acoustic weapon • Cuba • Embassy • Havana • Mass psychogenic illness • Mystery illness • Phantom Assailants • Sonic weapon • United States
ISBN-10 3-030-40745-4 / 3030407454
ISBN-13 978-3-030-40745-2 / 9783030407452
Zustand Neuware
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