Professor Matthias De Smet from Gent University explains the psychological phenomenon of "mass formation," a hypnotic state that occurs when a population experiences high levels of free-floating anxiety. He describes how media narratives provide an "object of anxiety"—such as a virus or a social issue—allowing people to connect their fear to a specific target and follow a prescribed strategy. This process creates a new social bond through a collective "heroic battle" against the designated object.