The Uncanny Valley is a phenomenon where our brains see faces where there aren’t any. Which then kickstarts the body’s fight or flight instincts.
Another explanation for it is “the relationship between the human-like appearance of a robotic object and the emotional response it evokes” (Cherry, n.d.). This, I feel, is a more modern-day explanation of the phenomenon, and specifically makes me think of Alice and Bob, Facebook’s two robots who were shut down permanently after the people working with them realised that they were creating their own made-up language in order to communicate. And finally, a third meaning of The Uncanny Valley is “a hypothesized relation between an object’s degree of resemblance to a human being and the emotional response to the object” (Wikipedia Contributors, 2019).
So, what I want to know is what wasn’t us, but looked so much like us that our brains evolved to have a fight or flight response to things like us?
What I want to know is what isn’t us, but looked like us. So much like us that our brains evolved to have a fight or flight response to things like us?
I asked this question to one of my sisters and she suggested that it is probably all the way back to when homo sapiens and neanderthals first co-existed. Like, way back in the very early times. She went on to explain she thought this because both species look so much alike. Although, probably fought for land and resources which is where the Uncanny Valley comes from. Both had to survive but instead of peacefully co-existing, fought with each other.
I like this thinking. It’s logical, makes sense and they would have fought.
BUT I want to discuss the more mythical, paranormal side of things. Mainly because that’s where my mind went first unlike her mind!
So, what I’ve theorised happened was that we are still haunted by whatever the thing is. One part of my brain goes to something a bit more logical, like my sister. I think people are scarier, not to the extent that I am afraid to be around others, but the capability of people to do horrific acts is astonishing. I’m a True Crime junkie. And the cases that freak me out the most, as they should, are the ones with the suspect being known as a kind and calm person who everyone loved, but done crimes so horrific that just hearing them make me feel physically sick.
With those cases, I always know that if I think hard enough I can find a few people I know who would fit that suspect description. This theory could tie in with my sister’s theory but as a modern-day twist. The homo sapiens and neanderthals preyed on one another, just as murderers and serial killers prey on some of us today.
But, what mythical and paranormal entities could fit the Uncanny Valley scenario?
The first two I think about are a Wendigo and a Skinwalker. Often confused as being the same entity with the same name, both these entities have aspects I feel that could contribute to The Uncanny Valley.
Wendigos were once human, many tales state differences on how to become a Wendigo but the common theme is cannibalism. So, being that a Wendigo was once human there would be similarities between the Wendigo form and human form. Certainly in the dark or from a distance, a Wendigo could look like a person, luring unsuspecting victims closer until it’s too little, too late and they become a meal. Wendigos are also known to be able to mimic human voices, so could call out for help. Again a tactic to lure in prey.
Skinwalkers are also derived from humans but in different ways. Originating from the Navajo/Native American culture, a skinwalker is a person, from what I’ve read is normally a harmful person or witch who becomes a shapeshifter. Saying its name, Skinwalker, is meant to bring the entity to you or awaken it. Again, similar to the Wendigo with its origins coming from a human form a Skinwalker could potentially lure a victim away with a plea for help.
There are merpeople, who look like us but are not. In some mythologies, merfolk are malevolent beings who lure their victims to the waters edge, or ships edge, and pull them in and drown them.
Or, The Uncanny Valley could still be deeply rooted within us because we are a danger to ourselves.
I’m not talking about the stupidity of humans or anything like that. I mean, the truthfully terrifying souls that we live with. The horrendous actions, murders, slaughters, mass genocides, etc. The acts that make you sick to your stomach and twist your brain because “how could someone think of that, let alone do it?” Maybe, that’s why it’s still such a strong instinct within us and hasn’t faded with evolution. We should still fear ourselves.
I will always say that even though I believe in all the paranormal, supernatural and mythical, magical wonders of the world, the one thing that will always, truly terrify me is other people. I put my trust in complete strangers all the time, such unpredictable beings, with the hope and goodwill that they won’t hurt me or the souls I love.
Otherworldly beings normally always come with a set of rules. As so animals. Humans really don’t. We are terrifying through and through.
On a lighter note, while I like all of these theories – may be a bit dark with that last one – I like to that it has stuck with us because of something from the Otherworld. Is that because I’m obsessed? Yes. Would it be cool? Obviously. But also because it helps me sleep at night knowing that the monsters aren’t the same species as me.
Reference list
Cherry, K. (n.d.). The Uncanny Valley: Why Realistic Robots Are Creepy. [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-uncanny-valley-4846247#:~:text=The%20uncanny%20valley%20is%20a [Accessed 17 Sep. 2021].
Griffin, A. (2020). Facebook robots shut down after they talk to each other in language only they understand. [online] The Independent. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/facebook-artificial-intelligence-ai-chatbot-new-language-research-openai-google-a7869706.html.
Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Uncanny valley. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley.
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