In the Times of Madness and Fury: Observations on Collective Behavior and Behavioral Deviations in Byzantium in the Age of Justinianic plague (541–750)
In the Times of Madness and Fury: Observations on Collective Behavior and Behavioral Deviations in Byzantium in the Age of Justinianic plague (541–750)

Summary/Abstract: The current paper aims to present the various forms of collective behavior and behavioral deviations in the course of the so-calledJustinianic plague (541–750) in Byzantium. It argues that after the institutionalized means of coping with disease proved inadequate, the Byzantines were driven to desperate measures often devoid of logical grounds. On the other hand fear, panic and hysteria i.e. the manifestations of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder caused by the plague provoked irrational and extreme forms of collective behavior. The paper traces such behavioral deviations as religious exaltation, group violence and scapegoating, suicides etc.

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