Hysterical strength

Hysterical strength refers to a display of extreme physical strength by humans, beyond what is believed to be within their capacity, usually occurring when people are in — or perceive themselves, or others, to be in — life-or-death situations.^[1]^[2] It was also reported to be present during situations of altered states of consciousness, such as trance and alleged possession. Its description is mostly based on anecdotal evidence.

The name refers to hysteria, a nosological category that included bouts of superhuman strength as one of the possible symptoms, but in Europe, this had also been an attribution in previous cases of alleged demonic possession.^[3]^[4]^[5] Charcot imputed to the phase of hysterical attacks called clownism the presence of strength and agility not consistent with the age and sex of the person, which before in the Catholic ritual of exorcism was attributed to demonic force. Thus, the cause of the phenomenon began at that time to be addressed by the investigation of insanity.^[5] During that period in the 19th century, the term hysterical strength could also be found in the intersection of such fields, scientific and religious, for instance mentioned by the Society for Psychical Research regarding a statement given by a physician.^[6]

It was also described in reports of trance or possession in several other cultures, as for example in the New Testament (Mark 5:4) or in shamanic practices.^[7]^[8]

Unexpected strength is claimed to occur during excited delirium.^[9]^[10]

The most common anecdotal examples based on hearsay are of parents lifting vehicles to rescue their children, and when people are in life-and-death situations. Periods of increased strength are short-lived, usually no longer than a few minutes, and might lead to muscle injuries and exhaustion later. It is not known if there are any reliable examples of this phenomenon.^{[citation needed]}

Seyit Çabuk, an Ottoman Army gunner in World War I, became famous for carrying three bombshells that weighed 276 kg (608 lb) to an artillery piece while in battle. Later, he was photographed with the bombshell but could not move it. "If war breaks out again, I'll lift it again," he said.
Tibetan oracles, such as the Nechung Kuten or Sungma Balung,^[11] are reported to display superhuman strength during possession. Eyewitnesses described the Nechung Oracle wearing a 36 kg (80 lb) or 41 kg (90 lb) headdress, that normally outside the trance could break his neck.^[12] The 14th Dalai Lama also stated that the oracle could barely walk with the total weight of his 32 kg (70 lb) outfit when not in trance.^[13]
Comic book artist Jack Kirby claims he was inspired to create the Hulk after seeing a woman lift a car to save her baby in 1962.^[14]^[15]^[16]
In 1982, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Tony Cavallo was repairing a 1,692 kg (3,730 lb) 1964 Chevrolet Impala automobile from underneath when the vehicle fell off the jacks on which it was propped, trapping him underneath. Cavallo's mother, Mrs. Angela Cavallo, lifted the car high enough and long enough for two neighbors to replace the jacks and pull Tony from beneath the car.^[17]
Shortly after filming Magnum, P.I., the show's helicopter stunt coordinator crashed a Hughes 500D helicopter in Waialua, Hawaii while flying another job. He was pinned in the cockpit as it lay partially submerged in water and was freed when Hawaiian "Tiny" Amarel heroically lifted the front of the 640 kg (1,400 lb)^[18] chopper, allowing his rescue.^[19]
In 2006, 41-year-old Lydia Angiyou fought a polar bear after it threatened her 7-year-old son and his friends as they played hockey in Ivujivik, Quebec, physically wrestling the bear until a hunter could return with a rifle. "She saved some kids' lives, I tell you" said the local police captain.^[20]
In 2006, in Tucson, Arizona, Tom Boyle watched as a Chevrolet Camaro hit 18-year-old Kyle Holtrust. The car pinned Holtrust, still alive, underneath. Boyle lifted the Camaro off the teenager, while the driver of the car pulled the teen to safety.^[17]^[21]
In 2009, in Ottawa, Kansas, 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in), 84 kg (185 lb) Nick Harris lifted a Mercury sedan to help a 6-year-old girl pinned beneath.^[22]
In 2009, in Newport, Wales, Donna McNamee, Abigail Sicolo, and Anthony McNamee lifted a 1,150 kg (2,540 lb) Renault Clio off an 8-year-old boy.^[23]
In 2011, Danous Estenor, an offensive lineman on University of South Florida's football team, lifted a Cadillac Seville weighing 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) off a tow truck driver who wriggled out from under the rear tire, largely unharmed due to the rapid rescue. He had gotten pinned when the car rolled off his tow truck. Estenor then continued walking to the cafeteria. It did not occur to him to share the story widely and only mentioned it to his roommate and parents. and a flurry of press picked it up well afterwards.^[24]
In 2012, in Glen Allen, Virginia, 22-year-old Lauren Kornacki rescued her father, Alec Kornacki, after the jack used to prop up his BMW automobile slipped, pinning him under it. Lauren lifted the car, then performed CPR on her father and saved his life.^[25]
In 2012, in Monroe, Michigan, Austin Smith (age 15) lifted a 1,285 kg (2,833 lb)^[26] automobile (a 1991 Buick Century) to save his grandfather pinned underneath.^[27]^[28]
In 2013, in Oregon, teenage sisters Hannah (age 16) and Haylee (age 14) lifted a 1,400 kg (3,000 lb) tractor to save their father pinned underneath.^[29]
In 2013, in Salvage, Newfoundland and Labrador, Cecil Stuckless, a 72-year-old man, lifted a Jeep SUV to save his son-in-law pinned underneath.^[30]^[31]
In 2014, Bob Renning, a 52-year-old man in New Brighton, Minnesota rushed to a burning Chevrolet Trailblazer on the side of the highway and rescued its frantic driver, who was impossible to see through the smoke. Renning gripped one of the door frames with his fingers and bent it in half to form an exit.^[32] He had "no idea" how he did it and was pleased that his grandkids were impressed.
In 2015, St. John's, Newfoundland resident Nick Williams witnessed a four-wheel drive vehicle run over a young boy who had been playing on the sidewalk, pinning the child under a tire.^[33] Williams lifted the car off the boy, who did not have serious injuries. Recalling the moment, Williams said: "I couldn't budge it at first, but then I saw the little fellow ... and the bugger came up then."
In 2016, Vienna, Virginia teenager Charlotte Heffelmire lifted a burning truck off her father in her family home's attached garage before driving the flaming truck into the yard on three wheels. "I didn't want the house to explode with the truck" she explained. Heffelmire closed the garage door to contain flames, called 911, then entered the smoke-filled home to get her family out from the ensuing house fire.^[34] She later said, "I just did what I had to do, so I don't feel like a big hero or anything."^[34]
In 2017, in Temple Terrace, Florida, Kenny Franklin lifted an SUV from a state trooper after an accident.^[35]^[36]
In 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio, 16-year-old American football player Zac Clark lifted a 1,400 kg (3,000 lb) Volkswagen Passat off his 39-year-old neighbor after hearing a cry for help. Clark said he thought about his deceased father in that moment, and did not want another family to experience such a loss. The teen's football coach was "amazed but not surprised".^[37]^[38]

Hysterical strength

Examples

Research

See also

References

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