Stacy Schiff’s, The Witches; Salem 1692 encompassed the entire history of the Salem Witch trials as well as events occurring in Europe at this time. Schiff penned a thought provoking book which touched on the influence of the colonists’ neurological state and its impact on the trials. The Salem Witch Trials is a mystifying and fascinating event that often captivates the attention of curious individuals. The trials are surrounded by a cloud of confusion over the paranormal and the psychological aspects during this time. In order to gain a clearer insight on what occurred during the trials, you must first recognize the various cultural and psychological aspects that factor into the development of the colonists’ manic state. Life in the colonies was not easy and their hardships are thought to have some…show more content… Being in constant competition with their neighbors, their religious state proved vital during the trials Stacy Schiff did an exemplary job on following the lives of colonists name, giving instances and occurrences to support the difficulties of life in the colonies. The rest of the world was not immune to the colonists’ mentality, in fact the colonists inherited it from the mother country. The European country was afflicted with the witch craft state of mind before the commencement of the trials. Europe was running ramped with stories of ghosts and witches, which then in turn feed the colonial panic. The psychological state of the colonists is often called into question and was especially highlighted during the trials. Biosocial influences may have been a significant factor in how the colonists dealt with their new surrounds. The colonists suffered from a “monkey see monkey do” mentality. The belief of witch craft in the colonies stemmed from the mother county and they acted off European ideals and beliefs as well as the ones that they had developed for
