The Frightening History of Witchcraft and Sleep Disorders

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In this episode we speak with CofC junior Francesca Gibson and Jason Coy, chair of the History Department, about the experience of bewitchment in the 15 and 1600s. Funded by a Summer Undergraduate Research with Faculty (SURF) grant, Gibson and Coy explored a time in history when people believed in and feared witchcraft. Their research closely examined this fascinating period of time through the lens of history and psychology. A time when someone, usually a woman, could be accused of witchery based on the testimony of a member of the community and then sentenced to death. Digging deep into a treasure trove of archived sources like court testimonies, the research reveals the power of the mind to cause sleep disorders, nighttime terrors and physical pain.