Psychologists explain how staring at a mirror can create ghost illusions
Italian psychologist Giovanni Caputo published a study in 2010 explaining the science behind the Bloody Mary legend and other mirror ghost sightings.
Study participants viewed distorted faces
The research asked 66 volunteers to sit 40 centimeters from a mirror in a dimly lit room. Participants looked at their own reflections for one minute while researchers observed their reactions. Around two-thirds of the group reported seeing significant distortions of their own faces during this time.
Many saw unfamiliar features
More than a quarter of the volunteers described seeing an unfamiliar face in the glass. The study suggests that the brain can turn a normal reflection into something barely recognizable. This psychological effect explains why people believe they see monsters or ghosts when staring at mirrors.
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