Hysterical strength

Hysterical strength refers to a display of extreme physical strength by humans, beyond what is believed to be within their capacity, usually occurring when people are in — or perceive themselves, or others, to be in — life-or-death situations.[1][2] It was also reported to be present during situations of altered states of consciousness, such as trance and alleged possession. Its description is mostly based on anecdotal evidence.

The name refers to hysteria, a nosological category that included bouts of superhuman strength as one of the possible symptoms, but in Europe this had also been an attribution in previous cases of alleged demonic possession.[3][4][5] Charcot imputed to the phase of hysterical attacks called clownism the presence of strength and agility not consistent with the age and sex of the person, which before in the Catholic ritual of exorcism was attributed to demonic force. Thus, the cause of the phenomenon began at that time to be addressed by the investigation of insanity.[5] During that period in the 19th century, the term hysterical strength could also be found in the intersection of such fields, scientific and religious, for instance appearing in a statement by a physician for the Society for Psychical Research.[6]

It was also described in reports of trance or possession in several other cultures, as for example in the New Testament (Mark 5:4) or in shamanic practices.[7][8]

Unexpected strength is claimed to occur during excited delirium.[9][10]

  1. ^ Evans, Daniel R.; Boggero, Ian A.; Segerstrom, Suzanne C. (21 June 2016). "The Nature of Self-Regulatory Fatigue and "Ego Depletion"". Personality and Social Psychology Review. 20 (4): 291–310. doi:10.1177/1088868315597841. ISSN 1088-8683. PMC 4788579. PMID 26228914.
  2. ^ "From the archives: Unlocking the mystery of superhuman strength". ESPN.com. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  3. ^ Levack, Brian (22 April 2013). The Devil Within: Possession & Exorcism in the Christian West. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-19538-5.
  4. ^ Ferber, Sarah (11 January 2013). Demonic Possession and Exorcism: In Early Modern France. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-61520-9.
  5. ^ a b Grossi, Roberta Vittoria (1 June 2020). "Demonic Possession and Religious Scientific Debate in Nineteenth-Century France". In Giordan, Giuseppe; Possamai, Adam (eds.). The Social Scientific Study of Exorcism in Christianity. Springer Nature. pp. 40, 44. ISBN 978-3-030-43173-0.
  6. ^ Journal of the Society for Psychical Research. Vol. 7. Society for Psychical Research. 1895.
  7. ^ Keener, Craig S. (2010). "Spirit Possession as a Cross-cultural Experience". Bulletin for Biblical Research. 20 (2): 215–235. doi:10.2307/26424297. ISSN 1065-223X. JSTOR 26424297. S2CID 40571982.
  8. ^ Huiying, Meng (14 February 2011). "Characteristics of Shamanism of the Tungusic Speaking People". In Ma, Xisha; Meng, Huiying (eds.). Popular Religion and Shamanism. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-17455-9.
  9. ^ "White Paper Report on Excited Delirium Syndrome" (PDF). ACEP Excited Delirium Task Force. American College of Emergency Physicians. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2010.
  10. ^ Sztajnkrycer, Matt D.; Baez, Amado A. (2005). "Cocaine, Excited Delirium and Sudden Unexpected Death" (PDF). Emergency Medical Services. 34 (4): 77–81. PMID 15900873. Retrieved 29 November 2012.