The Invasion from Mars: A Study in the Psychology of Panic. With the Complete Script of the Famous Orson Welles Broadcast"On Halloween night 1938, Orson Welles broadcast a radio adaptation of the H.G. Wells fantasy, The War of the Worlds. What listeners heard sounded so realistic that at least a million were frightened by word that "strange creatures" from Mars had landed in central New Jersey and were "unleashing a deadly assault." Several thousand were so terrified they ran into the streets, drove away in their cars, or called the police for information about how to escape. Why did so many panic when the circumstances reported were so improbable? That is just the question Hadley Cantril, then a young social psychologist, set out to answer." Originally published in 1940, The Invasion from Mars remains a classic. The broadcast provided a unique real-life opportunity to explore why the relatively new medium of radio could have such an effect. Using a mix of research methods, Cantril shows that the impact of the broadcast had less to do with what went out over the air than with the "standards of judgment" people did or did not use in evaluating what they were hearing. This book is of continuing value to those interested in communications and mass behavior."--Publisher |
Contents
HOW THE STIMULUS WAS EXPERIENCED | 67 |
DESCRIPTION OF REACTIONS | 87 |
CRITICAL ABILITY | 111 |
Copyright | |
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AIPO announcer answer asked astronomer behavior believed the broadcast Buck Rogers bulletin called Carl Phillips catastrophe CBS survey cent characteristics Charlie McCarthy Columbia Broadcasting System critical ability economic status emotional insecurity excited fantastic feel felt Frank Stanton friends fright frightened Grovers Mill happened hear heard the broadcast heat-ray high school husband important indicate individual insecurity interpretation interviews invasion from Mars Jersey knew Ladies and gentlemen Less than high listening situation living looked machine ment Mercury Theatre miles Militia Miss Dean Newark newspaper October 30 orientation Orson panic Paul Lazarsfeld persons PHILLIPS play possible Princeton Professor Pierson psychological Pulaski Skyway reaction reported rôle sample scared seemed standards of judgment stations stimulus story STRANGER studies susceptibility Table telephone things thought tion told Total number Trenton tuned in late WABC wanted Watchung Mountains WILMUTH worry York