Source link : https://www.mondialnews.com/2025/09/02/how-epidemiology-models-reveal-the-spread-of-rumors-during-frances-great-fear-of-1789/
In a striking blend of history and science, researchers have unveiled how epidemiological models-typically used to track disease outbreaks-can illuminate the rapid spread of rumours during France’s Great Fear of 1789. This pivotal moment, marked by widespread panic and unrest in rural communities on the eve of the French Revolution, saw fears spiral through villages with alarming speed. Now, detailed analysis published in Nature reveals that the dynamics of these social contagions mirror those of infectious diseases, offering fresh insights into how misinformation cascades through societies in times of crisis.
Epidemiology Models Shed Light on Rumour Dynamics During France’s Great Fear
Recent research employing epidemiological frameworks illuminates how the hysteria during France’s Great Fear of 1789 propagated rapidly akin to an infectious disease. By adapting classical SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) models, scholars characterized the population’s response to malign rumours about aristocratic conspiracies and peasant revolts. The findings reveal that fear, much like a contagion, passed swiftly through communities, fueled by social interactions and the limited verification of facts. Researchers identified key transmission vectors such as local marketplaces, church gatherings, and rural taverns, where information exchange was both frequent and emotional, exacerbating collective panic.
The models further quantified the effects of various containment…
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Author : Samuel Brown
Publish date : 2025-09-02 03:40:00
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