The psychology underlying the Salem witch trials in New England during the late 1600s stems from various Puritan and religious beliefs. Men like Cotton Mather and other clergy of New England believed that the spiritual and earthly realms intermingled. As such, many believed that Satan sent his minions in the form of witches and other entities to work his wiles on unsuspecting colonists. Coupled with this belief, Puritan leaders also felt they had the ability to determine the spiritual and earthly realms. This led such leaders to justify and vindicate the persecution of those suspected as witches, more often than not based solely on hearsay. As Becker (1915) maintains, this justification arose from a ôvain and pathetic effort of single-minded men to identify the temporal and spiritual commonwealthsö (97). This psychology or worldview led to the persecution and death of many condemned as witches, even though little evidence existed proving such.
The New EnglanderÆs embroiled in the Salem witch trials during the late 1690s were often guided by fear and paranoia. When someone was accused of being a witch, they were forced into court and the burden of proof was on them to prove otherwise. However, ridiculous evidence was used to prove they were witches while the hearsay or unfounded accusations of others were often enough to send someone accused of witchery to the gallows. Many people testified against those accused, mainly because they would be hanged if they refused. Of those accused, ridiculous tests were used to determine their guilt or innocence, such as tying them and throwing them in water. If they floated, they were guilty of being witches. The toll taken on innocents was heavy, ôNineteen victims of the witch-hunt had been hanged, one crushed to death under the weight of stones and at least four died in prison awaiting trialö (Salem 2004, 1).
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