In the folklore of many peoples of the world, the mirror has for centuries been identified with mysticism and dark forces. But modern society is quite calm about this piece of furniture, and only a few continue to believe in superstition. For example, you cannot look in the mirror after sunset. But what scares people so much? What can you see in reflection if you look in the mirror at night by the light of a lighted candle?
Spooky visuals
Italian psychologist Giovanni Caputa decided to solve a riddle that has frightened people for many centuries. He gathered a group of volunteers, which included 50 people. Each of them peered at his own reflection for 10 minutes while in a dimly lit room. The results of the experiment were amazing. The vast majority of people (66%) admitted that after a while they began to observe how their faces were deformed or acquired new features. Slightly more than a quarter of the subjects (28%) admitted that they had experienced the “stranger” phenomenon. Instead of their reflection, they saw the face of a complete stranger.
Others saw images of deceased relatives, various animals and even fantastic creatures, for example, unicorns and pegasus. Interestingly, absolutely all the subjects told the psychologist that they experienced mild depersonalization, fear and negativity. Giovanni, having received the results of the experiment, came to the conclusion that there is no mysticism in the mirrors and their reflection.
The so-called stranger effect is the most common optical illusion that occurs as a result of a long concentration of gaze on one point. Our visual system is forced to identify the same image over and over again, but over time it begins to perceive it in different ways. Then the imagination interferes with what is happening, which "completes" and distorts the picture.
Promotional video:
Do you believe in superstitions associated with mirrors?
Author: Pechasss Pechasss
