What is Stendhal syndrome and who is at risk of becoming a victim of beauty

What is Stendhal Syndrome

Stendhal syndrome is a temporary clouding of the mind, with which face tourists, watching the incredible beauty of works of art. For example, standing in front of the statue of David by Michelangelo, a person may feel dizzy, fall into euphoria, and then experience longing and even hatred for the sculpture.

Strange effects from contemplating beauty for the first time described Graziella Magirini, Italian psychiatrist at Santa Maria Nuova Hospital in Florence. In 1989, she collected 106 cases of acute mental disorders from tourists who visited beautiful places in the city.

People complained about cardiopalmus, disorientation in space, hallucinations and loss of identity.

Sometimes they were taken to the hospital directly from museums and art galleries.

Magirini called this phenomenon the Stendhal syndrome, after the pseudonym of the French writer Marie-Henri Bayle, who described similar symptoms in his autobiography.

In 1817 he visited the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. The beauty of the fresco on the dome of one of the chapels delighted the writer so much that he fell into an ecstatic state, felt his heartbeat quicken, and almost fell into fainting.

In addition to Stendhal, other famous people experienced similar effects. For example, Dostoevsky was impressed painting by Hans Holbein "Dead Christ in the tomb", which almost became a victim of an epileptic seizure.

And Sigmund Freud, having visited the Athenian Acropolis, first experienced a surge of enthusiasm, and later - alienation and depersonalization.

Is Stendhal syndrome dangerous and who is at risk of experiencing it

Over time, Magirini began to receive reports of similar effects from other cities with a rich cultural heritage.

So, in 2000, a group of psychiatrists from Jerusalem fixedthat about 100 tourists visiting the holy city experience an acute psychotic episode.

The doctors called it "Jerusalem Syndrome". Having seen enough of the holy places, people would wrap themselves in the bed linen of the hotel, sing psalms loudly, or wish to deliver sermons in one of the holy places of the city.

Among the risk factors, they identified the presence of mental problems: identifying oneself with any character or idea, as well as borderline personality disorder, in which people are overly emotional.

In addition, the Jerusalem Syndrome was more often manifested in those who idealized the image of the city.

If a person experiences admiration and awe of the works of art or holy places that they are about to visit, then they are more likely to fall victim to strange effects.

Magirini also cited susceptibility, the stress of traveling and visiting a great city filled with "ghosts of the past". The psychiatrist had in mind Florence, but in the future it may happen in other beautiful places.

Fortunately, Stendhal's syndrome is not dangerous and is treated by leaving the city in which it manifested itself. Returning to normal routine removes all negative effects.

Thus, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to go crazy with beauty. Although the trip, in which the Stendhal syndrome manifested itself, will certainly be remembered for a long time.