what factors may have contributed to the harsh response to suspected witchcraft in ea

what cultural, social, or religious factors contributed to the harsh response to suspected witchcraft

I would have to say the biggest factor was fear. Socially anyone who was different in anyway cultural or religiously or even just socially posed as a threat for the pure fact they didn't have the same thoughts as everyone else and that was considered dangerous. These "witches" would make herbal concoctions to cure disease and had different ideas about the spiritual world and people would think they could cast spells or enter the spirit world for revenge or just to cause pain. Who's to say some of them weren't a threat, if the witches were real... Something to think about.

Even so a lot of Innocent people were tortured and murdered just for having different ideas.

Strict Protestantism. They were not tolerant of any different views.

I think they just misjudge persons who are performing these things that time.