Choreomania is a term used to describe a contagious dance-like movement disorder. The spelling of choreomania is based on the combination of the Greek word "choros," meaning dance or chorus, and "mania," meaning madness or craze. The correct pronunciation of choreomania is /kɔːrɪəʊˈmeɪnɪə/, with the stress on the second syllable. The phonetic transcription demonstrates that the pronunciation begins with the "k" sound, followed by a long "o" sound, and ends with "nia." Choreomania is a rare phenomenon, historically associated with outbreaks in Europe in the Middle Ages.
Choreomania is a term used in psychiatry to describe a specific manifestation of mass hysteria or collective abnormal behavior, characterized by a sudden and uncontrollable urge to dance. Derived from the Greek words "choreia" meaning dance and "mania" meaning madness, choreomania is often referred to as the "dancing mania."
The phenomenon of choreomania first gained recognition in medieval Europe during the 14th to 17th centuries, particularly during times of social unrest, religious fervor, or epidemics. It was most prevalent in large groups of individuals, who would come together and engage in frenetic and repetitive dance movements for extended periods of time.
Symptoms of choreomania include an overwhelming compulsion to dance, often accompanied by an altered state of consciousness, involving disorientation, trance-like behavior, and even convulsive movements. Participants often exhibited a lack of control over their dancing, with their movements becoming progressively more uncoordinated and chaotic.
The exact causes of choreomania remain unclear, although some theories suggest that it may have been triggered by psychological stress, mass hysteria, or even the consumption of contaminated food or drink. Historically, choreomania was frequently associated with religious and supernatural beliefs, with some attributing it to possession by demons or spirits.
While choreomania is a rare occurrence in modern times, it continues to be of interest to researchers studying mass psychogenic illnesses and abnormal group behavior.
Epidemic chorea, choromania, the dancing mania of the middle ages.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "choreomania" is derived from two Greek roots: "choreo" and "mania".
1. "Choreo" (χορεία) comes from the Greek word "khoros" (χορός), which means "dance" or "chorus". This root is often used in words related to dance, such as "choreography" and "choreographer".
2. "Mania" (μανία) is also a Greek word that means "madness" or "frenzy". It is commonly used in English to describe an intense enthusiasm or obsession for something.
When combined, "choreo" and "mania" create "choreomania", which refers to a condition characterized by uncontrollable and frenzied dancing.