FORGOTTEN HISTORY: Creepiest photos | History Defined

The BBC notes that even some objectively ordinary things (e.g., dolls, clowns, mannequins) can have creepy connotations

According to Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a behavioral scientist and horror expert, the feeling of creepiness is something that almost anybody can resonate with. “If you say you’re creeped out, most people will know exactly what you mean.” It’s incredibly relatable.

Research shows that creepy things tend to be ambiguously threatening. A 2015 study into the psychological nature of creepiness found that it might arise in the gray area where things might or might not be dangerous.

Many people find things like mannequins, dolls, and clowns to be particularly creepy. They feel that these (objectively innocent) things have an underlying current of malevolence.

Dr. Scrivener told BBC Bitesize that in real life, clowns paint on smiles, but on TV, dangerous clowns often paint on frowns. “This sends mixed ideas about whether they’re actually safe,” the scientist explained.

Meanwhile, clowns, dolls, and mannequins can scare some folks because of the uncanny valley phenomenon. In short, it’s related to how people feel uncomfortable when they see something that looks almost like a human being… but not quite.

It’s not just people, creatures, and things that can scare us. Landscapes, like lonely forest roads, can unsettle us as well. “Humans are social creatures so if you’re out by yourself and you see no one is there, it’s a great question to ask, ‘Why is nobody else here? Is there something wrong with this place? Is it dangerous?’” Dr. Scrivner said.

Music, sounds, and silence can have a similar effect. However, context is vital here. “When a door creaks open that’s only creepy when you’re by yourself. It signals that something or someone may be pushing it slowly,” the scientist pointed out.

Alternatively, in a house full of people you know, a poorly-oiled door would be a minor annoyance at worst. Why? Because you feel safe and at ease.

The viral thread, created by the curators running the @fasc1nate account, was immensely success, at least as far as internet fame is concerned. It caught a lot of people’s attention. At the time of writing, the post was viewed a whopping 2 million times.

Unusual, bizarre, and even macabre content can captivate a lot of people because it touches on taboo topics. People tend to have a strange fascination with figuring out the mystery behind strange and even uncomfortable content, whether that’s photos, videos, or stories.

The @fasc1nate account itself is very widely known on X. It’s followed by a jaw-dropping 3.3 million users. It has amassed this large following over more than 11 years of posting since its inception in 2013. The account is part of the wider ‘History Defined’ internet and social media project.

Which of the photos featured in this list creeped you out the most, Pandas? What is the most frightening thing you’ve ever experienced in person? Would you have been creeped out by some of these images if you didn't know the context behind them?

If you’re not too spooked out, share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

The fascination with eerie and macabre content often stems from our desire to understand the story behind unsettling images. This thematic curiosity is profoundly similar to the interest surrounding the photographic evidence of historical medical procedures. Exploring how unsettling visuals, like those seen in collections documenting controversial medical treatments, can evoke a visceral reaction reveals much about our psyche.

For more insights into the significance of such disturbing historical imagery, you might want to delve into the photographic documentation of historical medical procedures that were once deemed progressive yet horrifying.