Salem Witch Persecution: Theories

Hypotheses Include Psychosocial, Medical, Politics and Religion

Oct 1, 2008

Historians, psychologists, sociologists and others research and theorize as to what caused Salem's mass hysteria, a complex issue, involving many factors.

Psychosocial, politics, interpersonal conflict, religion and economic hypotheses have been formed to try to explain what happened in Salem Village. No single theory can account for the persecutions.

Psychosocial Theory about Salem

The persecutions began when Betty Parris, Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam Jr. were the first to exhibit bizarre behavior. They had been telling fortunes by dropping egg whites in water, a sin for Puritans. Tituba, a Parris family slave, told them tales of Voodoo and other Barbados mysteries. A doctor who examined them concluded they were bewitched. Betty was the first to accuse Tituba and two other women of witchcraft. Others, called The Afflicted, joined her in this and made future allegations.

Some believe they enjoyed the attention people gave them. It’s possible they had Munchausen’s Syndrome, a psychiatric disorder in which people intentionally fake or produce symptoms for this. It might be they believed their delusions were real or they created illusions to get what they wanted.

At the time, belief in witches was accepted as a fact of life, so their actions were the basis for fear that led to hysteria.

Salem, Physical Illness Theory

Diseases such as ergotism, caused by eating contaminated baked goods, can cause uncomfortable dermal sensations, convulsions, hallucinations and psychosis. The problem with this theory is that not all of the populace was affected. Could it be some were naturally immune to ergotism? Or that the ergot affected grainscame from only certain farms?

Political Control Theory Operative in Salem

The state and the church wanted to control people. There’s historical evidence that the North Berwick Witches' Persecution was created by King James VI of Scotland, later, James I of England, David Seton and James Carmichael, Minister of Haddington, to further their political ambitions.

Salem and Socio/economic Theory

There was conflict between the mercantile and agricultural classes. Farmers believed merchants were getting prosperous at their expense. This doesn’t account for the majority of women accused.

Misogynist/Economic Theory a Factor in Salem

Others contend some accused wealthy women, without male heirs, posed a threat to an economic system based on transferring property from father to son. They were seen as having assets without performing the indispensable duty of having male children. There are those who theorize a widow who inherited dower from her husband competed with her sons and stepsons for the inheritance.

Interpersonal Conflicts Prevlent in Salem

Throughout history, personal feelings led some to accuse others of being a witch. In Salem, the prime example is Ann Putnam Sr’s vendetta against the Reverend Burroughs. He had borrowed money from the Putnams and, although he finally repaid it, she accused him of being a witch.

Religious Theory and Salem

Puritans believed witches made a pact with the devil to be given special powers and that they worked in league with him to sow evil.

Witches are mentioned in the King James Version of the Bible. In Exodus, it’s written a witch shouldn’t be allowed to live. The Witch of Endor is referred to in Samuel I. King Saul drove sorcerers out of Israel after the Prophet Samuel died. He was at war with the Philistines and prayed for answers as to how to win. Receiving no answer, he asked the witch to summon Samuel. His ghost predicted disaster for Saul, who was killed in combat the next day.

Disaster Theory Contributes to Salem

Crops failed. There were epidemics. In the 1600s, little was known about natural disasters and epidemiology, so these, to the Puritans, were logical to blame on witches. When Martha Carrier and her family fell ill with smallpox, the townspeople treated her as if she had caused an epidemic.

The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, (Facts on File, Inc., 1999)

The copyright of the article Salem Witch Persecution: Theories in Paganism/Wicca is owned by Jill Stefko . Permission to republish Salem Witch Persecution: Theories in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.