Hysteria Strikes a Girls' School in 1962

The Laughter Epidemic: A Unique Case of Mass Hysteria

On January 30th, 1962, an all-girls boarding school in Kashasha, Tanganyika, became the center of one of the most unusual mass hysteria events ever recorded in human history: the Laughter Epidemic. This event was marked by hysterical laughter, as well as crying, restlessness, fainting, pain, respiratory problems, and rashes. It affected a total of 95 girls between the ages of 12 to 18, leading to the school closing twice within four months.

The impact of this epidemic extended beyond Kashasha. Over the course of 18 months, it spread to nearby villages such as Nshamba, Ramashenye, and Kanyangereka, affecting at least 1,000 people during its duration.

Understanding Mass Hysteria

Mass Hysteria is a phenomenon that has been documented throughout history. One of the most famous examples is the Salem Witch Trials in Colonial Massachusetts. It can be categorized into two distinct groups:

• Mass anxiety hysteria, which typically occurs in close-knit groups or communities.
• Mass motor hysteria, which affects large groups of people experiencing long-term stress.

In modern times, the term Mass Psychogenic Illness has emerged. This refers to physical symptoms that are spread through a group without a clear physical cause. While the symptoms are real, they are attributed to psychological factors rather than an actual illness.

What Caused the Laughter Epidemic?

To understand how a laughter epidemic could take hold in the minds of 1,000 people, it's important to consider the context of the time. Tanganyika had recently gained independence from the United Kingdom just the year before, leaving the country in a fragile state for the next four years.

While the political situation played a role, it wasn't the only factor. During the UK’s occupation of Tanganyika, missionary schools were introduced, which often clashed with traditional cultural practices that had existed for thousands of years. This created a conflict between modern education and indigenous traditions.

Additionally, the primary affected group was adolescents, who were already dealing with internal hormonal changes and external pressures. Many of them were maturing in a newly independent state, which may have contributed to their psychological distress.

Correlating Events and Cultural Shifts

The Laughter Epidemic was the first mass hysteria experienced in African communities, but it certainly wasn’t the last. In July and November 1963, two Ugandan communities, Kigezi and Mbale, experienced a “running mania,” characterized by symptoms such as:

• Running
• Chest Pain
• Agitation
• Talkativeness
• Violence
• Anorexia
• Exhaustion
• Quietness
• Depression

This mass hysteria appeared almost immediately after the laughing mania subsided, suggesting that these widespread emotional responses had not yet faded. Psychiatrists noted that there were common symptoms across different tribal boundaries, which led Benjamin H. Kagwa, a psychiatrist at the time, to believe that these episodes were rooted in a rapid shift from traditional beliefs.

Kagwa wrote, "We must not, however, think for one moment that this is peculiar to Africans. There is much historical evidence to prove that emotional upheavals associated with hysteria occur whenever a people's cultural roots and beliefs become suddenly shattered."