A historical painting illustrates the phenomenon of dancing mania by showing a group of pilgrims dancing in a manner that appears inconsistent and aimless.

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Between the 11th and 17th centuries, an epidemic known as dancing mania occurred across Western Europe. This phenomenon involved large groups of people, sometimes thousands at once, who were compelled to dance uncontrollably. These episodes could last for days or weeks, often resulting in physical harm like bruised and bloody feet. Participants also exhibited signs of severe psychological distress, such as screaming about terrifying visions and pleading with religious figures for salvation. The definitive cause of dancing mania remains unknown, though potential explanations include poisoning from spider venom or ergot.

Dancing Mania

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Artistic Depiction of Dancing Mania

Historian John Waller proposed a comprehensive theory for dancing mania, attributing it to a combination of three interconnected factors. First, widespread disasters of the era, such as famine and plagues, caused severe psychological distress, making people more susceptible to involuntary trance states. Second, cultural beliefs in supernatural forces, including dancing curses and possession rituals, shaped how individuals behaved once in a trance; the expectation of entering a trance also increased its likelihood. Third, this environment facilitated social contagion, where a few individuals slipping into a spontaneous trance could trigger a mass event, with others acting out the culturally expected role of being 'cursed'.

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