This chapter describes and comments on mistaken beliefs that are or have
been orthodox or at least common in whole communities. So-called culture-bound
psychoses are illustrated by shen-k'uei in Taiwanese culture and malgri among natives
of Mornington Island. So-called epidemic hysteria is illustrated by an outbreak of
witchcraft in Christian Europe, the epidemic of shell shock among allied soldiers in the
First World War, and the epidemic of RSI in Australia from 1980 to 1986. Brief notes
on myths, legends, rumours, and conspiracy theories complete the chapter.
Keywords: Belief, Conspiracy theories, Culture-bound psychoses, Epidemic
hysteria.
