35 Disturbing Photos That Made People Suffer (New Pics)

Bored Panda reached out to psychologist and founder and CEO of the Private Therapy Clinic, Dr.Becky Spelman, to find out why so many people enjoy searching for or sharing disturbing images online.

She told us, "The captivation with disgust, particularly in the context of sharing disturbing images online, such as on the subreddit “Make Me Suffer,” can be attributed to several psychological factors. Firstly, there's a phenomenon known as "benign masochism," where people derive pleasure from experiences that are initially perceived as negative.

This can include watching scary movies, eating extremely spicy food, or, in this case, viewing disturbing images. It's a form of thrill-seeking, where the knowledge that these experiences are not actually harmful allows people to enjoy the sensation of being "disgusted" in a safe environment. Additionally, there's a social aspect: sharing and discussing these images can create a sense of community and shared experience, which can be appealing."

Psychologists who study disgust explain that it’s one of the six basic emotions that define and explain humanity. It shapes our behavior, etiquette, new technology, and even relationships. The feeling is responsible for us wearing deodorant and perfume, inventing a knife and fork, and even starting a viral TikTok trend that points out our partner’s “icks.”

According to Spelman, some people use it as a coping mechanism as well. "Engaging in activities that are slightly unpleasant or discomforting but ultimately harmless can provide a sense of control and a way to confront fears or anxieties in a controlled setting. It's a way to experience and process negative emotions in a context where the individual feels safe and in control. This can be therapeutic and help in building resilience against stress and anxiety."

Darwin initiated disgust studies when he described an encounter in “The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals” with a “savage” who poked the cold, preserved meat he was eating, showing “utter disgust at its softness.” In return, he was repulsed by a stranger sticking his fingers in his food.

Following this, one of the most important works on this paradox was Aurel Kolnai's, who pointed out that it often holds “curious enticement.” He assigned smell, taste, sight, and touch as the senses through which this feeling enters our system and pointed out hearing as a weak transmitter of disgust.

Andras Angyal argued that it extends beyond the senses and includes the associations we attribute to them. He illustrated his statement by referring to a time he was walking through a field and smelt the pungent, decaying smell of an animal. The moment he realized it was only glue he found the odor “quite agreeable.”

Paul Rozin continued the studies and coined the term “benign masochism,” which describes “enjoying initially negative experiences that the body (brain) falsely interprets as threatening.” That’s why some people are captivated by horror movies, spicy food, bungee jumping, and cursed or disturbing photos online. They put themselves in situations that cause fear, pain, or disgust without posing any tangible threat.

His famous tragedy “Titus Andronicus” contains, as some might say, as much gore as our current slasher movies. Professor of English and Art History, Clark Hulse, estimated “14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members, 1 sexual abuse (or 2 or 3, depending on how you count), 1 live burial, 1 case of insanity, and 1 of cannibalism—an average of 5.2 atrocities per act, or one for every 97 lines.”

During that period, people were quite desensitized to such spectacles, gathering to view public executions where criminals were left to hang on chains so the public could see them for an extended amount of time. They would also watch doctors perform autopsies in open anatomy theaters, while pharmacists displayed human body parts before mixing them into medicine, a practice called “medicinal cannibalism.”

However, Spelman warns that while engaging in benign masochistic behaviors can have some benefits, there are potential risks and negative consequences.

"If not kept in balance, these behaviors can escalate, leading to a desensitization to disturbing content, which might require increasingly extreme experiences to achieve the same emotional effect. There's also a risk of normalizing or becoming insensitive to real-world violence and suffering.

Additionally, if these behaviors are used as a primary coping mechanism, they might prevent individuals from developing healthier emotional processing and coping strategies. It’s important for individuals to monitor their engagement with such content and ensure it doesn't interfere with their emotional well-being or social functioning."