Medical explanations of bewitchment, especially as exhibited during the Salem witch trials but in other witch-hunts as well, have emerged because it is not widely believed today that symptoms of those claiming affliction were actually caused by bewitchment. The reported symptoms have been explored by a variety of researchers for possible biological and psychological origins.
Modern academic historians of witch-hunts generally consider medical explanations to explain the phenomenon. Besides, it's believed that the accusers in Salem were motivated by social factors – jealousy, spite, or a need for attention – and that the extreme behaviors exhibited were "counterfeit," as contemporary critics of the trials had suspected.
Read more about Medical Explanations Of Bewitchment: Ergot Poisoning, Encephalitis, Lyme Disease, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Hysteria and Psychosomatic Disorders, Projection
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