September 14, 2023 • 27 mins
In the late 1800s, Alexandra David-Neel embarked on a remarkable quest for forbidden knowledge. From Freemasonry to Theosophy, from opera singing to anarchist pamphleteering, her life was a whirlwind of intrigue. Her fascination with the mystical and the unknown led her to Asia, where she delved into the secrets of Tibetan monks and their astonishing practice of creating tulpas—sentient thoughtforms born from the fusion of Tibetan Buddhism and ancient shamanic traditions. Alexandra created her own tulpa, a journey that blurred the lines between thought and reality. Discover how her merry monk evolved beyond her control, morphing into something sinister and disturbing.
Slenderman is a faceless entity that emerged from the depths of the internet. Explore the collaborative storytelling that breathed life into this modern urban legend and learn how the fear of the unknown and the uncanny play a pivotal role in Slenderman's psychological allure.
Dive into the psychology of collective belief and shared dread as I dissect the Slenderman phenomenon. Discover how a fictional creation can have real-world consequences and why it continues to captivate and unsettle those who encounter it in the digital labyrinth of the internet.
Don't miss this thought-provoking exploration of tulpas and Slenderman, where imagination blurs the line between fiction and reality. Tune in to "Psychology of the Strange" and prepare to unravel the shadows of the mind.
https://www.theawl.com/2014/11/all-my-friends-are-in-my-head/
http://anomalyinfo.com/Stories/1929-pre-alexandra-david-neel-and-tulpas-tibet
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:10):
In the 18 seventies,
Alexandra David Neil lived in the charming city of Brussels.
She was a woman of mystery and intrigue and had a deep fascination with forbidden knowledge.
Alexandra was not your typical young woman.
(00:31):
She dabbled in a wealth of unconventional pursuits from freemasonry to theosophy.
From the grand stages of opera singing to anarchist pamphleteering.
She would often wear disguises when infiltrating these secret societies.
(00:55):
She once dressed as a man to immerse herself into a French cult that partook in hash smoking rituals and experienced visions beyond the ordinary.
As she entered her twenties,
Alexandra wanted greater adventure.
She traveled to Asia in Siim.
(01:17):
She found herself in the presence of the Dalai Lama in India.
She explored Sanskrit and partook in ancient tantric rites that hinted at the profound mysteries of existence.
For two years.
She lived in a cave in the remote mountains of Tibet with a hermit who wore an apron carved from the bones of humans.
(01:46):
This hermit held the secrets of telepathy and a remarkable Tibetan technique called Tumo,
which is a practice that generates body heat through controlled breath.
It was this very technique that saved them from freezing to death in the harsh Tibetan cold periodically,
(02:09):
Alexandra would return to France and share her adventures.
She grew a large following of people eager for tales from the exotic east.
She started writing books,
captivating the imaginations of those who longed for journeys into the unknown.
(02:31):
In her book with Mystics and magicians in Tibet first published in English in 1931 Alexandra recounted two astonishing encounters that defy explanation.
The first was a tale of a Tibetan painter haunted by a fantastical creature that bore a striking resemblance to the monsters.
(02:56):
He painted.
The second introduced a monk who created an exact living replica of himself.
What linked these mystical stories?
Both beings were known as Tulpa.
Alexandra described Topas as magic formations generated by a powerful concentration of thought.
(03:21):
These entities were not of the ordinary world but were born from a unique fusion of Tibetan Buddhism and ancient shamanic traditions.
Through ritualistic meditation.
Topas were thought forms brought into a tangible existence.
(03:42):
They were the mentally equivalent to the legend of the Gollum.
You know,
a creature animated from lifeless mud.
Alexandra was determined to create a Tulpa herself.
She learned everything she could about crafting one of these creatures.
She envisioned her Tulpa to be a short plump monk.
(04:07):
She imagined him to be happy and innocent.
For several months,
she remained secluded from the outside world and practiced all the techniques that she had learned to form a living breathing image of this merry monk within the confines of her mind,
(04:28):
every detail was accounted for and she practiced envisioning him engaging in everyday activities as though he were a real living presence beside her,
satisfied that she had laid the groundwork to her creation.
She gathered her belongings,
(04:49):
including servants and tents and resumed her travels across the country.
To her astonishment,
the illusion of the monk persisted.
He joined the group seeming to interact with them much like a fellow traveler.
Would his actions felt natural,
(05:09):
unforced and utterly lifelike?
What was even more surreal was that Alexandra no longer needed to actively concentrate on the monk's presence for him to be visible or take actions.
Strangely,
she even began to feel his presence physically.
(05:31):
His robe occasionally brushed past her.
And there was one startling occasion when she believed she felt his hand resting upon her shoulder.
One day,
a local herdsman presented her with a gift of butter and to his surprise,
found the Tulpa in her tent.
(05:53):
He simply assumed it was a visiting llama.
This incident marked a turning point in Alexandra's experiment.
Her Tulpa had started to become real,
not just in her perception but in the eyes of others.
This once imagined figure was becoming tangible to those around her as well.
(06:18):
And that blurred the line between thought and reality.
As time passed,
the illusion took on a life of its own.
The once plump and happy monk began to morph into a leaner more sinister figure and his actions became increasingly troublesome and audacious,
(06:41):
Alexandra found herself losing control of her own creation as he morphed into something unrecognizable.
What had once been her cherished companion had transformed into a burden and his presence began to weigh heavily on her psyche.
She felt as though she was living in a waking nightmare,
(07:05):
realizing that her creation had spiraled out of control.
Alexandra tried to get rid of him.
However,
the TPA displayed an unexpected tenacity for life.
He clung stubbornly to his existence,
resisting her efforts to release him from her thoughts.
(07:28):
The process took Alexandra six months to finally rid herself of the tenacious entity that had evolved beyond her intentions.
(08:02):
Welcome to Psychology of The Strange,
the podcast that delves into the depths of human psychology to explore the obscure and mysterious aspects of the human mind.
I'm your host,
Tara Perro and together we'll embark on a journey behind the strange and unexplained phenomena that captivate our imagination within the human mind.
(09:01):
There exists a concept known as a Tulpa.
Tulpa are thought forms,
mental creations that originate within our own consciousness.
They have fascinated people for centuries from ancient Tibetan practices to modern internet communities.
(09:21):
The term topa finds its root in Tibetan Buddhism where it is referred to as a thought form or mental construct.
Tibetan monks create these topas as companions and spirit guides through rigorous meditation and visualization exercises.
(09:43):
These Tulpa were often perceived as real beings capable of independent thought and action in the Western world.
The concept of a Tulpa gained popularity in the early 20th century.
Through the works of theosophists and occultists.
(10:03):
Writers like Alexandra David Neil,
who documented her experience in Tibet brought the idea of Tulpa to a wider audience today.
The idea of a Tulpa has evolved beyond its traditional roots and online subculture has emerged with communities of individuals who actively practice Tulpa creation.
(10:30):
These communities exchange experiences techniques and stories about their,
the process of creating a TPA typically involves intense meditation and visualization.
Practitioners focus on shaping their topas appearance,
personality and even backstory over time.
(10:53):
The Tulpa is believed to gain sentience and independence within their creators mind creating a topa is a deeply personal and introspective journey.
It begins with a practitioner selecting a form and personality for their TPA.
This form can range from a human like figure to fantastical creatures or even abstract concepts.
(11:22):
The personality traits are carefully defined and the practitioner often interacts with their Tulpa through mental conversations and shared experiences,
repetition and meditation play crucial roles in Tulpa development.
The practitioner regularly engages with their Tulpa in their mind,
(11:44):
reinforcing its existence and encouraging its autonomy gradually.
The Tulpa becomes more distinct and capable of independent thought and action.
Some argue that treating Tulpa as sentient beings is a form of self deception.
While others maintain that it is a legitimate exercise in expanding one's own consciousness.
(12:12):
Some believe that Tulpa deserve respect and care.
While others view them as purely mental constructs with no inherent rights or needs.
Creating a Tulpa can have profound effects on the creator's mind and emotional well being,
some practitioners report positive outcomes such as increased creativity,
(12:37):
improved focus and a sense of companionship.
Tolba can serve as sources of support and motivation in their creators life.
However,
there are potential challenges as well.
Some individuals may struggle with the blurred boundaries between themselves and their Tulpa leading to an identity crisis,
(13:03):
maintaining multiple distinct thought processes within one's mind can be mentally taxing and practitioners may experience moments of confusion or cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance is when you feel uncomfortable or uneasy because you have two conflicting thoughts or beliefs in your mind.
(13:26):
At the same time,
it's like having two puzzle pieces that don't quite fit together and it can make you feel a bit stressed and conflicted until you find a way to make them fit or resolve the conflict.
People often try to reduce cognitive dissonance by changing their beliefs or actions to make them more consistent with each other.
(13:53):
From a scientific standpoint,
Tulpa are often seen as manifestations of the power of human imagination.
They are viewed as products of the brain's capacity to create and sustain complex mental constructs.
While Topas may exhibit autonomy within the mind of their creators,
(14:15):
they are generally not considered to have external existence.
Research on Tulpa is limited and there's much to learn about the phenomenon.
Some psychologists have compared Tulpa creation to the development of imaginary friends in childhood suggesting that it may be a form of creative coping or self exploration.
(14:40):
Tulpa have found their way into popular culture in various forms.
They have been featured in literature,
films and TV shows often portrayed as mysterious and other worldly entities.
These depictions contribute to the ongoing fascination with Tulpa and their role in the human psyche.
(15:13):
Slender man is a mysterious and eerie figure that has captured the imagination of many on the internet.
But what if Slenderman,
the tall faceless and mysterious entity was not just a fictional character but something more Slender Man made its first appearance in 2009 on a website called Something Awful.
(15:43):
A user named Victor Serge whose real name is Eric Nusen posted two photoshopped images that depicted a tall thin figure with long tentacle like arms lurking in the background.
With these images were fictional captions that describe Slenderman as a malevolent presence who stalks and abducts Children.
(16:10):
These initial posts set the stage for the Slender Man myths to take root in the online community.
Users on the Something Awful Forum began to contribute their own stories,
images and videos collectively expanding the lore on Slenderman.
(16:31):
What makes Slenderman fascinating is how it evolved through collaborative storytelling.
Internet users from around the world contribute to its myth,
creating a rich narrative filled with various interpretations of the character,
Slender Man was no longer confined to a single story.
(16:53):
It became an evolving concept that could adapt to different mediums and creative interpretations,
creepy pasta stories,
video games,
web series and fan art all contributed to the ever expanding Slenderman universe.
Slenderman demonstrates how the internet could unintentionally generate Tulpa.
(17:19):
As countless individuals contributed to Slender Man's myth,
they collectively poured their thoughts,
emotions and energy into creating a shared mental construct.
Slender man evokes fear through a combination of unsettling traits.
Its tall and thin physique is reminiscent of a human,
(17:44):
but it's faceless and tentacle like appendages,
give it an otherworldly and unsettling appearance.
This combination of familiar and unfamiliar elements taps into a psychological concept known as uncanny Valley.
The uncanny describes the eerie feeling we experience when we encounter something that is almost but not quite human.
(18:14):
Slender man's uncanny features,
trigger this sensation,
making it simultaneously recognizable and profoundly alien,
amplifying the fear it elicits over time.
This collective mental effort gave Slenderman a kind of existence within the minds of its followers.
(18:37):
People began to report sightings and experiences with slender man.
Some individuals have claimed to have had real life encounters or have experienced intense fear and paranoia related to the character.
These experiences highlight the power of the collective belief in shaping individual perceptions and emotions.
(19:10):
In 2014,
a disturbing and tragic incident in Wisconsin brought Slenderman into the spotlight in a different way and Morgan became friends when Peyton saw Morgan sitting alone at lunch,
their friendship blossomed quickly.
(19:31):
And before long,
they were the best of friends.
They hung out after school had sleepovers and shared jokes like typical girls.
Morgan even gave Peyton the affectionate nickname Bella Morgan described Payton as her only friend for a very long time.
(19:54):
However,
things took a dark turn when Morgan and Anisa became friends.
Two years later,
Peyton mentioned that everything changed for the worst.
At that point,
Morgan and Anisa developed an obsession with slender man and it frightened Peyton still.
(20:14):
She went along with it because she wanted to support her friend.
It was a Friday night and they were celebrating Morgan's birthday with the slumber party.
Their night started with roller skating,
enjoying pizza and playing with their American girl dolls.
(20:35):
However,
Peyton noticed that the sleepover was a little bit different from their usual ones because Morgan didn't want to stay up all night.
The following morning,
they headed to the park.
Anisa later explained during her interrogation that she believed her family would be in danger if she didn't follow Slender man's request to harm Peyton,
(21:01):
the fear drove her to act.
Peyton recounted that Anisa attempted to knock her out and although she got angry,
she stayed with them,
even after their initial struggle,
Anisa and Morgan then led Peyton into the woods where the horrifying attack took place.
(21:22):
The exact details of the incident vary due to different stories given by Morgan and Anisa during their interrogation,
each blamed the other for initiating the attack.
However,
it's a fact that Morgan repeatedly stabbed Peyton with a kitchen knife while Anisa stood and watched nearby during the investigation,
(21:50):
Morgan mentioned she had wanted to hurt people before but only those who were unkind to her implying that they deserved it.
Greg Steinberg was out for a ride on his bicycle and he found Peyton bleeding and in pain barely conscious,
(22:12):
he called 911 and offered her water while comforting her until the ambulance arrived.
Peyton sustained multiple stab wounds.
She injured five wounds on her arm,
seven on her leg and several others scattered across her torso.
(22:33):
Peyton's family was blindsided when they received the news that Saturday morning and they rushed to the hospital to be with Peyton.
Meanwhile,
Morgan and Nisa ventured into the woods in pursuit of slender man now that they believe their disturbing task was complete.
(22:55):
Peyton spent weeks in intensive care and was left with 25 scars.
As a result in December 2017,
Anisa was sentenced to the maximum of 25 years in a mental health facility after pleading guilty to being an accomplice to second degree intentional homicide.
(23:21):
In February 2018,
Morgan received a 40 year sentence in a mental hospital after pleading guilty to attempted first degree intentional homicide.
Slender man's aura of mystery contributes significantly to its psychological impact.
(23:44):
Humans have an inherent fear of the unknown.
The fear of what we cannot fully comprehend or predict Slenderman with its undefined origins and motives embodies this fear.
In the online stories surrounding Slender Man,
(24:07):
there is no concrete explanation for its existence or actions.
The lack of clarity amplifies the fear factor because it leaves room for individual interpretation and speculation.
People are left to fill in the gaps with their own anxieties and fears making Slenderman a perfect canvas onto which they project their darkest imaginings.
(24:32):
Slender man's psychological power is also rooted in social influence and the collective nature of fear.
When a myth like Slender Man gains popularity in the internet,
it becomes a shared experience among community of believers.
This shared belief can intensify the fear as people reinforce each other's anxieties and validate their experiences.
(25:00):
These group dynamics play a significant role in how individuals perceive and react to Slenderman.
When a community collectively believes in the existence of such an entity,
it becomes increasingly difficult for individuals to dismiss it as mere fiction,
(25:21):
the fear shared among the group becomes real,
fostering a sense of shared dread.
Slender Man,
psychological allure lies in its ability to tap into our primal fears of the unknown.
And the uncanny.
Its online presence and collaborative storytelling have created a shared experience that intensifies the fear factor.
(25:47):
Slender man's evolution and adaptability demonstrates the power of narrative and imagination in shaping our perceptions and emotions.
Slender Man is a fascinating example of how the internet can give rise to powerful Tulpa through collaborative storytelling.
(26:08):
Its origins on something awful and its evolution through the contributions of countless individuals and its many influences on popular culture,
demonstrate the incredible reach and impact.
It shows how that even fictional entities can have real life consequences when belief in them becomes too intense.
(26:35):
In that end.
Slenderman remains a testament to the collective power of human imagination and the ways in which our shared beliefs and stories can shape our perception of reality,
whether viewed as a Tulpa,
an internet myth or as a psychological phenomenon.
(26:56):
Even a modern day urban legend.
Slenderman continues to intrigue and unsettle those who encounter it in the digital labyrinth of the internet.
Thank you for tuning into Psychology of the Strange.
(27:20):
Make sure you subscribe to wherever you stream your podcast so that you never miss an episode until next time.
This is your host,
Tara Perro signing off.
In the 18 seventies,
Alexandra David Neil lived in the charming city of Brussels.
She was a woman of mystery and intrigue and had a deep fascination with forbidden knowledge.
Alexandra was not your typical young woman.
(00:31):
She dabbled in a wealth of unconventional pursuits from freemasonry to theosophy.
From the grand stages of opera singing to anarchist pamphleteering.
She would often wear disguises when infiltrating these secret societies.
(00:55):
She once dressed as a man to immerse herself into a French cult that partook in hash smoking rituals and experienced visions beyond the ordinary.
As she entered her twenties,
Alexandra wanted greater adventure.
She traveled to Asia in Siim.
(01:17):
She found herself in the presence of the Dalai Lama in India.
She explored Sanskrit and partook in ancient tantric rites that hinted at the profound mysteries of existence.
For two years.
She lived in a cave in the remote mountains of Tibet with a hermit who wore an apron carved from the bones of humans.
(01:46):
This hermit held the secrets of telepathy and a remarkable Tibetan technique called Tumo,
which is a practice that generates body heat through controlled breath.
It was this very technique that saved them from freezing to death in the harsh Tibetan cold periodically,
(02:09):
Alexandra would return to France and share her adventures.
She grew a large following of people eager for tales from the exotic east.
She started writing books,
captivating the imaginations of those who longed for journeys into the unknown.
(02:31):
In her book with Mystics and magicians in Tibet first published in English in 1931 Alexandra recounted two astonishing encounters that defy explanation.
The first was a tale of a Tibetan painter haunted by a fantastical creature that bore a striking resemblance to the monsters.
(02:56):
He painted.
The second introduced a monk who created an exact living replica of himself.
What linked these mystical stories?
Both beings were known as Tulpa.
Alexandra described Topas as magic formations generated by a powerful concentration of thought.
(03:21):
These entities were not of the ordinary world but were born from a unique fusion of Tibetan Buddhism and ancient shamanic traditions.
Through ritualistic meditation.
Topas were thought forms brought into a tangible existence.
(03:42):
They were the mentally equivalent to the legend of the Gollum.
You know,
a creature animated from lifeless mud.
Alexandra was determined to create a Tulpa herself.
She learned everything she could about crafting one of these creatures.
She envisioned her Tulpa to be a short plump monk.
(04:07):
She imagined him to be happy and innocent.
For several months,
she remained secluded from the outside world and practiced all the techniques that she had learned to form a living breathing image of this merry monk within the confines of her mind,
(04:28):
every detail was accounted for and she practiced envisioning him engaging in everyday activities as though he were a real living presence beside her,
satisfied that she had laid the groundwork to her creation.
She gathered her belongings,
(04:49):
including servants and tents and resumed her travels across the country.
To her astonishment,
the illusion of the monk persisted.
He joined the group seeming to interact with them much like a fellow traveler.
Would his actions felt natural,
(05:09):
unforced and utterly lifelike?
What was even more surreal was that Alexandra no longer needed to actively concentrate on the monk's presence for him to be visible or take actions.
Strangely,
she even began to feel his presence physically.
(05:31):
His robe occasionally brushed past her.
And there was one startling occasion when she believed she felt his hand resting upon her shoulder.
One day,
a local herdsman presented her with a gift of butter and to his surprise,
found the Tulpa in her tent.
(05:53):
He simply assumed it was a visiting llama.
This incident marked a turning point in Alexandra's experiment.
Her Tulpa had started to become real,
not just in her perception but in the eyes of others.
This once imagined figure was becoming tangible to those around her as well.
(06:18):
And that blurred the line between thought and reality.
As time passed,
the illusion took on a life of its own.
The once plump and happy monk began to morph into a leaner more sinister figure and his actions became increasingly troublesome and audacious,
(06:41):
Alexandra found herself losing control of her own creation as he morphed into something unrecognizable.
What had once been her cherished companion had transformed into a burden and his presence began to weigh heavily on her psyche.
She felt as though she was living in a waking nightmare,
(07:05):
realizing that her creation had spiraled out of control.
Alexandra tried to get rid of him.
However,
the TPA displayed an unexpected tenacity for life.
He clung stubbornly to his existence,
resisting her efforts to release him from her thoughts.
(07:28):
The process took Alexandra six months to finally rid herself of the tenacious entity that had evolved beyond her intentions.
(08:02):
Welcome to Psychology of The Strange,
the podcast that delves into the depths of human psychology to explore the obscure and mysterious aspects of the human mind.
I'm your host,
Tara Perro and together we'll embark on a journey behind the strange and unexplained phenomena that captivate our imagination within the human mind.
(09:01):
There exists a concept known as a Tulpa.
Tulpa are thought forms,
mental creations that originate within our own consciousness.
They have fascinated people for centuries from ancient Tibetan practices to modern internet communities.
(09:21):
The term topa finds its root in Tibetan Buddhism where it is referred to as a thought form or mental construct.
Tibetan monks create these topas as companions and spirit guides through rigorous meditation and visualization exercises.
(09:43):
These Tulpa were often perceived as real beings capable of independent thought and action in the Western world.
The concept of a Tulpa gained popularity in the early 20th century.
Through the works of theosophists and occultists.
(10:03):
Writers like Alexandra David Neil,
who documented her experience in Tibet brought the idea of Tulpa to a wider audience today.
The idea of a Tulpa has evolved beyond its traditional roots and online subculture has emerged with communities of individuals who actively practice Tulpa creation.
(10:30):
These communities exchange experiences techniques and stories about their,
the process of creating a TPA typically involves intense meditation and visualization.
Practitioners focus on shaping their topas appearance,
personality and even backstory over time.
(10:53):
The Tulpa is believed to gain sentience and independence within their creators mind creating a topa is a deeply personal and introspective journey.
It begins with a practitioner selecting a form and personality for their TPA.
This form can range from a human like figure to fantastical creatures or even abstract concepts.
(11:22):
The personality traits are carefully defined and the practitioner often interacts with their Tulpa through mental conversations and shared experiences,
repetition and meditation play crucial roles in Tulpa development.
The practitioner regularly engages with their Tulpa in their mind,
(11:44):
reinforcing its existence and encouraging its autonomy gradually.
The Tulpa becomes more distinct and capable of independent thought and action.
Some argue that treating Tulpa as sentient beings is a form of self deception.
While others maintain that it is a legitimate exercise in expanding one's own consciousness.
(12:12):
Some believe that Tulpa deserve respect and care.
While others view them as purely mental constructs with no inherent rights or needs.
Creating a Tulpa can have profound effects on the creator's mind and emotional well being,
some practitioners report positive outcomes such as increased creativity,
(12:37):
improved focus and a sense of companionship.
Tolba can serve as sources of support and motivation in their creators life.
However,
there are potential challenges as well.
Some individuals may struggle with the blurred boundaries between themselves and their Tulpa leading to an identity crisis,
(13:03):
maintaining multiple distinct thought processes within one's mind can be mentally taxing and practitioners may experience moments of confusion or cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance is when you feel uncomfortable or uneasy because you have two conflicting thoughts or beliefs in your mind.
(13:26):
At the same time,
it's like having two puzzle pieces that don't quite fit together and it can make you feel a bit stressed and conflicted until you find a way to make them fit or resolve the conflict.
People often try to reduce cognitive dissonance by changing their beliefs or actions to make them more consistent with each other.
(13:53):
From a scientific standpoint,
Tulpa are often seen as manifestations of the power of human imagination.
They are viewed as products of the brain's capacity to create and sustain complex mental constructs.
While Topas may exhibit autonomy within the mind of their creators,
(14:15):
they are generally not considered to have external existence.
Research on Tulpa is limited and there's much to learn about the phenomenon.
Some psychologists have compared Tulpa creation to the development of imaginary friends in childhood suggesting that it may be a form of creative coping or self exploration.
(14:40):
Tulpa have found their way into popular culture in various forms.
They have been featured in literature,
films and TV shows often portrayed as mysterious and other worldly entities.
These depictions contribute to the ongoing fascination with Tulpa and their role in the human psyche.
(15:13):
Slender man is a mysterious and eerie figure that has captured the imagination of many on the internet.
But what if Slenderman,
the tall faceless and mysterious entity was not just a fictional character but something more Slender Man made its first appearance in 2009 on a website called Something Awful.
(15:43):
A user named Victor Serge whose real name is Eric Nusen posted two photoshopped images that depicted a tall thin figure with long tentacle like arms lurking in the background.
With these images were fictional captions that describe Slenderman as a malevolent presence who stalks and abducts Children.
(16:10):
These initial posts set the stage for the Slender Man myths to take root in the online community.
Users on the Something Awful Forum began to contribute their own stories,
images and videos collectively expanding the lore on Slenderman.
(16:31):
What makes Slenderman fascinating is how it evolved through collaborative storytelling.
Internet users from around the world contribute to its myth,
creating a rich narrative filled with various interpretations of the character,
Slender Man was no longer confined to a single story.
(16:53):
It became an evolving concept that could adapt to different mediums and creative interpretations,
creepy pasta stories,
video games,
web series and fan art all contributed to the ever expanding Slenderman universe.
Slenderman demonstrates how the internet could unintentionally generate Tulpa.
(17:19):
As countless individuals contributed to Slender Man's myth,
they collectively poured their thoughts,
emotions and energy into creating a shared mental construct.
Slender man evokes fear through a combination of unsettling traits.
Its tall and thin physique is reminiscent of a human,
(17:44):
but it's faceless and tentacle like appendages,
give it an otherworldly and unsettling appearance.
This combination of familiar and unfamiliar elements taps into a psychological concept known as uncanny Valley.
The uncanny describes the eerie feeling we experience when we encounter something that is almost but not quite human.
(18:14):
Slender man's uncanny features,
trigger this sensation,
making it simultaneously recognizable and profoundly alien,
amplifying the fear it elicits over time.
This collective mental effort gave Slenderman a kind of existence within the minds of its followers.
(18:37):
People began to report sightings and experiences with slender man.
Some individuals have claimed to have had real life encounters or have experienced intense fear and paranoia related to the character.
These experiences highlight the power of the collective belief in shaping individual perceptions and emotions.
(19:10):
In 2014,
a disturbing and tragic incident in Wisconsin brought Slenderman into the spotlight in a different way and Morgan became friends when Peyton saw Morgan sitting alone at lunch,
their friendship blossomed quickly.
(19:31):
And before long,
they were the best of friends.
They hung out after school had sleepovers and shared jokes like typical girls.
Morgan even gave Peyton the affectionate nickname Bella Morgan described Payton as her only friend for a very long time.
(19:54):
However,
things took a dark turn when Morgan and Anisa became friends.
Two years later,
Peyton mentioned that everything changed for the worst.
At that point,
Morgan and Anisa developed an obsession with slender man and it frightened Peyton still.
(20:14):
She went along with it because she wanted to support her friend.
It was a Friday night and they were celebrating Morgan's birthday with the slumber party.
Their night started with roller skating,
enjoying pizza and playing with their American girl dolls.
(20:35):
However,
Peyton noticed that the sleepover was a little bit different from their usual ones because Morgan didn't want to stay up all night.
The following morning,
they headed to the park.
Anisa later explained during her interrogation that she believed her family would be in danger if she didn't follow Slender man's request to harm Peyton,
(21:01):
the fear drove her to act.
Peyton recounted that Anisa attempted to knock her out and although she got angry,
she stayed with them,
even after their initial struggle,
Anisa and Morgan then led Peyton into the woods where the horrifying attack took place.
(21:22):
The exact details of the incident vary due to different stories given by Morgan and Anisa during their interrogation,
each blamed the other for initiating the attack.
However,
it's a fact that Morgan repeatedly stabbed Peyton with a kitchen knife while Anisa stood and watched nearby during the investigation,
(21:50):
Morgan mentioned she had wanted to hurt people before but only those who were unkind to her implying that they deserved it.
Greg Steinberg was out for a ride on his bicycle and he found Peyton bleeding and in pain barely conscious,
(22:12):
he called 911 and offered her water while comforting her until the ambulance arrived.
Peyton sustained multiple stab wounds.
She injured five wounds on her arm,
seven on her leg and several others scattered across her torso.
(22:33):
Peyton's family was blindsided when they received the news that Saturday morning and they rushed to the hospital to be with Peyton.
Meanwhile,
Morgan and Nisa ventured into the woods in pursuit of slender man now that they believe their disturbing task was complete.
(22:55):
Peyton spent weeks in intensive care and was left with 25 scars.
As a result in December 2017,
Anisa was sentenced to the maximum of 25 years in a mental health facility after pleading guilty to being an accomplice to second degree intentional homicide.
(23:21):
In February 2018,
Morgan received a 40 year sentence in a mental hospital after pleading guilty to attempted first degree intentional homicide.
Slender man's aura of mystery contributes significantly to its psychological impact.
(23:44):
Humans have an inherent fear of the unknown.
The fear of what we cannot fully comprehend or predict Slenderman with its undefined origins and motives embodies this fear.
In the online stories surrounding Slender Man,
(24:07):
there is no concrete explanation for its existence or actions.
The lack of clarity amplifies the fear factor because it leaves room for individual interpretation and speculation.
People are left to fill in the gaps with their own anxieties and fears making Slenderman a perfect canvas onto which they project their darkest imaginings.
(24:32):
Slender man's psychological power is also rooted in social influence and the collective nature of fear.
When a myth like Slender Man gains popularity in the internet,
it becomes a shared experience among community of believers.
This shared belief can intensify the fear as people reinforce each other's anxieties and validate their experiences.
(25:00):
These group dynamics play a significant role in how individuals perceive and react to Slenderman.
When a community collectively believes in the existence of such an entity,
it becomes increasingly difficult for individuals to dismiss it as mere fiction,
(25:21):
the fear shared among the group becomes real,
fostering a sense of shared dread.
Slender Man,
psychological allure lies in its ability to tap into our primal fears of the unknown.
And the uncanny.
Its online presence and collaborative storytelling have created a shared experience that intensifies the fear factor.
(25:47):
Slender man's evolution and adaptability demonstrates the power of narrative and imagination in shaping our perceptions and emotions.
Slender Man is a fascinating example of how the internet can give rise to powerful Tulpa through collaborative storytelling.
(26:08):
Its origins on something awful and its evolution through the contributions of countless individuals and its many influences on popular culture,
demonstrate the incredible reach and impact.
It shows how that even fictional entities can have real life consequences when belief in them becomes too intense.
(26:35):
In that end.
Slenderman remains a testament to the collective power of human imagination and the ways in which our shared beliefs and stories can shape our perception of reality,
whether viewed as a Tulpa,
an internet myth or as a psychological phenomenon.
(26:56):
Even a modern day urban legend.
Slenderman continues to intrigue and unsettle those who encounter it in the digital labyrinth of the internet.
Thank you for tuning into Psychology of the Strange.
(27:20):
Make sure you subscribe to wherever you stream your podcast so that you never miss an episode until next time.
This is your host,
Tara Perro signing off.
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