Differentiating Perceived Reality from The Uncanny

Anchoring Our Reality

As humans, we rely on our senses to perceive the world around us. Our eyesight enables us to see the colors and shapes of objects, our sense of touch allows us to feel textures, and our sense of hearing picks up the nuances in sounds and language. All of this information is interpreted by the brain and forms the anchor that grounds our perception of reality. However, what happens when this anchor is disturbed, or the information we receive does not fit our usual expectations?

The Symbols We Create

When the anchor that grounds our perception of reality is disturbed, we tend to create symbols to make sense of our experiences. Symbols are objects, images, or words that represent an idea or concept that we are familiar with. For example, when a child sees a clown for the first time, the image may be unsettling as it does not fit the typical cues they receive from familiar adults. To the child, this clown may represent an unknown or potentially dangerous figure, and they may use the familiar concept of monsters to make sense of their fear. Similarly, in dreams, our brain can create symbols to represent ideas or concepts. For example, a dream of falling could represent a feeling of insecurity or fear of failure. These symbols enable us to process and make sense of the information we receive, even if it doesn't make logical sense in the real world.

The Uncanny Valley

However, there are times when the symbols we create to make sense of our perceptions can elicit a feeling of unease or discomfort. This is known as the Uncanny Valley. The term was coined by robotics professor Masahiro Mori in 1970 and referred to the feeling of revulsion people experience when observing a robot or animation that is almost but not quite human. The more lifelike the robot or animation is, the more unsettling it can become. This feeling of unease can also be elicited by the use of familiar but distorted symbols. For example, a doll with exaggerated facial features, or a picture that appears to be distorted can be unsettling for some people. Our brain is unable to reconcile the familiar symbol with the unfamiliar distortion, and this creates a sense of discomfort or uncanniness. In conclusion, our perception of reality is based on the information we receive through our senses. When this information is disrupted, symbols are created to make sense of it, and if the symbols created are familiar, they enable us to process and understand our experiences. However, when the symbols created are distorted or unsettling, the result can be a feeling of unease or uncanniness.