TOWARD A REVISED THEORY OF HYSTERICAL CONTAGION.

Rather than considering hysterical contagion episodes as incidents or a negative reaction to increased levels of stress—as has been the recent approach in works by Kerckhoff, Back, Smelser, and Klapp—it is argued that at least for many participants they are a type of craze. What is "contagious" is the understanding that exhibiting certain behaviors will entitle one to the secondary gains of the sick role. However, the decision to adopt the behavior is not necessarily conscious. Such an approach is more consistent with existing understandings of the diffusion or contagion process, the sick role, and with theoretical approaches to collective behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]