The Michelangelo Signorile Show on SiriusXM PROGRESS ch.127

In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris, a wave of fear and paranoia has swept across the country concerning Muslims, and in order to capitalize on this panic for political purposes Republicans have begun calling for the US to not admit any Syrian refugees.  This extreme paranoia, which blatantly ignores facts that prove that those who are admitted as refugees are extremely unlikely to commit any acts of terrorism, is a perfect example of a popular delusion taking hold and influencing society and culture.  In his new book A Colorful History of Popular Delusions Robert Bartholomew offers an eclectic history of unusual crowd behavior, describing an assortment of mass phenomena from fads, crazes, manias, urban legends, moral panics, riots, stampedes, and other mass expressions of emotion.  Robert joins me today to talk all about the book, group reactions to fear or excitement, and how these sometimes dangerous mob responses can be avoided.  

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