The podcast discusses mass psychogenic disorder, a phenomenon where people in a group exhibit physical or psycho-somatic symptoms without any physical cause, and can mistakenly be attributed to a disease outbreak, poisoning or other external factors.
This podcast episode discusses an article by Jeopardy champion Jacob Silverman about a contemporary outbreak of mass psychogenic disorder that occurred in a girls boarding school in Choco, Mexico.
Mass psychogenic disorder, also known as collective hysteria, is a real condition that can cause physical symptoms in individuals due to a collective belief or stressor.
Mass psychogenic disorders have been occurring for centuries, affecting mostly young women, with the reason for this is still unknown, leading to controversy around the term "hysteria."
The phenomenon of Beetle mania and the trend of young ladies seeking medical help have a similar vibe of girls raging against the patriarchy in a culturally acceptable outlet that has been previously overlooked.