As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of horror gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that dolls have an uncanny ability to send chills down my spine like no other inanimate object. Growing up, I was always the kid who would hide behind the couch during a scary movie, yet here I am now, eagerly seeking out the latest terrifying game or film featuring these lifeless, soulless, and seemingly benign objects.
Spooky entities such as ghosts, demons, slasher killers, and eerie dolls form the Mount Rushmore of frightening figures. While the first three are undeniably scary – meeting one of them would certainly provoke fear – it’s puzzling why dolls might scare us. After all, they’re typically inanimate objects we play with as children. However, when reimagined or manipulated to be sinister, they can evoke a deep sense of unease
Dolls are items that are part of our everyday world and one of the initial objects we interact with in early childhood. These toys are meant for amusement, created to bring happiness. It might seem odd, yet dolls have been featured prominently enough in horror films to earn their own subcategory. Films like “Annabelle,” “Puppet Master,” “Talky Tina” from “The Twilight Zone,” “KKK Comeuppance” from “Tales From the Hood,” and of course, the “Child’s Play” series are just a few examples of scary doll movies available for viewing if you’re inclined. Given that all three seasons of “Chucky” are now streaming on Peacock, this could be an excellent moment to explore this peculiar trend in popular culture
Research on the ‘creep factor’ of dolls has been limited, however, it falls under our broader connections with inanimate objects resembling us. The concept of the Uncanny Valley was introduced by roboticist Masahiro Mori in 1970. He proposed that our acceptance of robots increases as they become more human-like, but only up to a certain extent. After this point, they become unsettling or even repulsive. This theory doesn’t just apply to robots, but also to anything trying to mimic a humanoid form, such as dolls
How do toys become scary?
One way to rephrase this in a natural and easy-to-read manner is: “The differences between ancient and modern dolls can be clearly seen on a spectrum. A simple stone carving doesn’t evoke fear; instead, it might spark some recognition of its basic characteristics and serve as a tool for the mind’s creativity. On the other hand, a more contemporary doll can stir up a whole different set of emotions when you look into its glassy eyes. This is likely due to the effects of evolution.”
Over time, our minds have adapted to identify and respond to specific triggers, primarily for the purpose of enhancing our survival. This has led us to differentiate between objects that are completely inert and those that could potentially possess consciousness or pose a threat to us. Interestingly, our brains are particularly adept at recognizing faces, which is why we sometimes perceive them even when they aren’t actually present
From soon after birth, research indicates that facial recognition ability is practically inherent. In one particular study focusing on infants averaging nine minutes old, it was observed that they tend to focus more on faces rather than random visual stimuli. This suggests that this faculty might be hardwired into the structure of our brains, implying it’s an innate characteristic rather than something learned over time
The mind doesn’t stop, though, at just recognizing face-like structures. Once targeted, it moves into secondary calculations. The question then becomes whether the object in question is lifelike enough to pass muster.
According to cognitive scientist Ayse Saygin at the University of California, San Diego, who spoke with Scientific American, it seems crucial because when something is made to look human-like, it triggers higher brain expectations. If these expectations aren’t fulfilled, then issues may arise within the brain
Essentially, it’s these distinctive features that hint at a face resembling a human or something similar that initially catch the brain’s attention. Interestingly, studies show that we tend to prioritize species that share traits with us, as we often attribute human qualities to them. This is because they seem more familiar or relatable. As a result, those creatures deemed to be more like us are more likely to secure funding for conservation efforts and are often granted moral considerations
We attribute consciousness to non-human animals, perceiving them as thinking and feeling entities. They meet certain criteria, suggesting they possess cognitive abilities. However, objects like dolls fail this test because although they may share some characteristics of potential thought and action, they don’t provide the subtle signs we link with a mind, leaving our minds puzzled or confused
How our brains make us scared of dolls
Saygin proposes that once we put an item in the initial box, considering it as a possible living entity, we begin searching for additional indicators. When we can’t locate these signs, or if the items don’t meet the criteria for being alive, we experience a sense of alarm
As a gamer, I’d describe it like this: It’s the feeling of having almost solved a challenging puzzle in a game, but just as I’m about to win, an unexpected obstacle arises. The alarm blares, signaling that something is amiss. This same sensation kicks in when I encounter someone who doesn’t fit typical social norms. They aren’t necessarily dangerous, but their unusual behavior sets off my alarms and puts me on high alert. It’s a unique emotion, unlike the fear triggered by an actual threat
In confronting direct threats, we’re adept at identifying them and choosing appropriate responses. However, when someone acts in ways that don’t align with our set rules, we find ourselves at a loss. This is the realm of discomfort, existing between acceptable and harmful behaviors. Dolls also inhabit this gray area
Although our higher intellect can perceive them as inactive and harmless, our more primal responses are uncertain. They appear to be living entities, yet they’re not. They occupy a gray area between being lifeless and living
Ongoing research aims to determine precisely where mistakes occur. In a recent study published in Psychological Science, scientists presented participants with images that gradually transitioned from realistic human faces to mannequins. The set consisted of 50 images, each one slightly different by approximately 2%. Participants were tasked with identifying the moment they thought the image came to life
In summary, the research concluded that something needs to be approximately 65% human-like for the eerie or unsettling feeling, often referred to as the “creep factor,” to disappear. It’s worth mentioning that our technological advancements, encompassing physical and digital creations of artificial entities, have a hard time surpassing this 65% threshold. Isn’t it fascinating?
The lack of comfort we feel towards dolls, game characters, and humanoid robots stems from our inability to cross the boundary, yet still being close to it. Our brains tend to categorize things as either clearly on one side or the other of a perceived division
It might be a good thing in this case. If there truly exist malevolent dolls with murderous tendencies, it’s better for us to identify them clearly
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2024-09-05 17:27