A high school student fainted after eating the "mystery meat special" in the cafeteria. Upon witnessing this, thirty other students who had eaten the same thing subsequently fainted. Tests showed no harmful substances in the air or in the "mystery meat." These students were likely suffering from

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given that tests showed no harmful substances in the food or air, the students' symptoms are not likely due to an actual physical illness caused by an external agent, such as food poisoning. Instead, their symptoms are likely psychogenic, meaning they arose in response to psychological factors—such as stress, fear, or the power of suggestion—rather than any physical cause. This is supported by the fact that the symptoms spread rapidly among the students after witnessing one student faint, which is characteristic of psychogenic illness.

A High School Student Fainted After Eating the "Mystery Meat