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From Salem to Scientology: How Fear Shapes Belief Systems

By Raiza Khanijow - Thailand & India


Introduction


The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 remain one of the most infamous and tragic events in American history, a chilling reminder of what happens when fear takes hold of a community. Beyond the immediate horror of innocent lives lost, these trials expose the fragility of reason in the face of collective panic. What drove neighbors to accuse one another? What made fear so powerful that it overrode empathy, compassion, and even basic logic? By delving into the psychology of fear, we uncover unsettling truths about human behavior. How it influences groupthink, fuels irrational decisions, and justifies persecution. The echoes of Salem’s hysteria can still be felt today, especially in modern religious movements like Scientology, where fear is often wielded as a tool of control. 


The Salem Witch Trials


The Salem Witch Trials took place in colonial New England, where a deeply religious community held strong beliefs in the supernatural and feared the devil's influence. Marginalized or nonconforming individuals, particularly outspoken or isolated women, became primary targets. In the end, 20 people were executed based on insufficient evidence, leaving a lasting legacy that demonstrated the dangers of unchecked fear and mass hysteria. (Salem Witch Trials, 2024)


While the Salem Witch Trials are often studied through a historical or sociological lens, they can also be understood through fear theory in psychology. According to the Fear theory,  fear is a fundamental emotion that drives behavior, particularly in situations where individuals feel threatened or vulnerable. (American Psychological Association, 2015) When people are afraid, their ability to think rationally diminishes, and they are more likely to act out of self-preservation, even at the expense of others. (Salem Witch Trials, 2024)


During the Salem Witch Trials, fear operated on multiple levels. On one hand, there was a genuine fear of witches and the devil. A  fear that was deeply embedded in the Puritan religious worldview. But beyond religious fear was the fear of backlash and social isolation, along with a deep sense of personal vulnerability. People feared losing their land, their status, or their lives, and these anxieties made them more susceptible to believing in and perpetuating the witchcraft hysteria, discouraging dissent not only based on religious beliefs but rather the pervasive anxiety that challenging the status quo could lead to dire personal consequences. (Salem Witch Trials, 2024)


Fear Theory


Fear theory helps explain how this collective fear led to groupthink and mass hysteria. The idea of Groupthink occurs when individuals suppress their doubts and conform to the majority’s beliefs out of fear of standing out or being ostracized (Psychology Today, 2011). In Salem, fear of being accused of witchcraft drove people to accuse others, perpetuating the cycle of fear and panic. Once accusations began, the pressure to conform to the dominant narrative, that witches were real and needed to be rooted out, became overwhelming. This led to irrational decisions, where neighbors turned on one another, and reason gave way to fear (Salem Witch Trials, 2024).


The dynamics of fear and control seen in the Salem Witch Trials are not only confined to the 17th century. Today, many religious movements use fear as a tool to control behavior, enforce conformity, and maintain social order within their communities. One of the most prominent examples of this in the modern era is Scientology, a religious movement founded in the 1950s by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard (Dove, 2015).


A key aspect of Scientology’s control mechanism is the practice of ‘disconnection’ where members are required to sever ties with anyone who is critical of the church or deemed a negative influence, including family members. The fear of being cut off from loved ones creates a powerful incentive for individuals to remain loyal to the church, even if they have doubts or concerns about its practices. Similarly, Scientology teaches that leaving the church can result in spiritual ruin, instilling a fear of eternal consequences for disobedience.


Mass Hysteria and Scapegoating in Scientology


The Salem Witch Trials are a textbook example of mass hysteria, a psychological phenomenon in which collective fear and anxiety spread rapidly through a group, leading to irrational behavior. In Salem, the fear of the witches took a life of its own, fueling a social contagion that affected nearly every member of the community. As accusations spread, hysteria grew, and people turned on one another to protect themselves from the perceived threat. (Cohut, 2018) The trials became a breeding ground for panic and paranoia, where accusations were treated as proof and rationality was overruled by fear (Salem Witch Trials, 2014) This mass hysteria was not limited to just Salem in the past. Today, fear-based narratives spread quickly through social media, where conspiracy theories and moral panic goes viral. In Scientology, similar dynamics are deliberately cultivated, portraying critics, former members, and even certain societal figures as existential threats to the church's mission. This fear-based environment functions to enforce a strict “us vs. them” mentality that isolates members from outside perspectives and heightens their dependence on the group. (Cohut, 2018) In this way, Scientology's tactics mirror Salem’s hysteria, where collective fear led to irrational actions against perceived enemies. Just as the people of Salem feared witches, modern society can fall victim to the fear of outsiders, government control, or cultural change, fueling irrational responses and deepening social divides. 


A key psychological element at play during the Salem Witch Trials was scapegoating- The process of blaming individuals or groups for problems or anxieties that have no clear solution. In Salem, the fear of witches allowed the community to channel its frustrations and anxieties, which stemmed from economic hardship, social tensions, and religious zeal. Those who were marginalized or didn't fit into the strict social norms of the time, particularly women, became convenient targets for the accusations (Salem Witch Trials, 2024). Blaming these individuals for the community’s troubles created a false sense of order, even though it led to tragic outcomes. Scapegoating remains a potent tool in modern times, with some religious movements, including Scientology, using it to control their followers. In Scientology, former members and external organizations are often portrayed as hostile “suppressive persons” and blamed for trying to undermine the church. This tactic not only strengthens loyalty but also creates a division between “righteous” members and “dangerous” outsiders, making it easier for Scientology’s leadership to justify isolating members and silencing dissent. The pattern of targeting enemies to reinforce loyalty and suppress questioning is a direct echo of the divisive, fear-driven tactics seen in Salem, where fear and scapegoating became tools for social control, with devastating results. (Salem Witch Museum, 2022)


Conclusion


The Salem Witch Trials provide a stark reminder of how fear can lead to devastating outcomes when it is allowed to dominate human behavior. The trials show how fear can be manipulated to control individuals, suppress dissent, and enforce conformity dynamics that continue to be relevant today. By linking the events of Salem to the fear theory in psychology, we can better understand how fear drives irrational behavior and shapes belief systems, both in historical and contemporary contexts. 


In modern religious movements like Scientology, fear continues to be a powerful tool for maintaining control. Whether it’s the fear of social rejection, spiritual failure, or external enemies, the dynamics of fear seen in Salem are mirrored in contemporary society. By recognizing these patterns, we can better protect ourselves from the dangers of fear-based thinking and work toward a society where fear is not used as a tool of control but understood as a natural human emotion that can be managed constructively. The lessons of Salem teach us to question fear, examine its sources, and resist the impulse to act out fear-driven hysteria.



Bibliography


History.com Editors. “Salem Witch Trials.” HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, 19 Sept. 2024,https://www.history.com/topics/colonial-america/salem-witch-trials. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

Cohut, Maria, Ph.D. “What is Mass Hysteria?” Medical News Today, Healthline Media, 27 July 2018,https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322607#What-is-mass-hysteria. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

Lee Ann Obringer. “How Witchcraft Works.” HowStuffWorks.com, 29 Oct. 2004, https://people.howstuffworks.com/witchcraft.htm. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

History and Education. “Salem Witch Museum.” Salem Witch Museum, https://salemwitchmuseum.com/my-account/history-education/. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

American Psychological Association. "Mass Hysteria: Revisiting the Theoretical Foundations." APA Journals, 5 July 2015,https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-a0039729.pdf. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Psychology Today. “Why GroupThink Happens.” Psychology Today, 23 Aug. 2011,https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/groupthink#why-groupthink-happens. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.


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