For some, the sight of a cluster of tiny holes, such as those found in a lotus seed or a beehive, causes a sudden, inexplicable, and unpleasant sensation on the skin. Feeling.
It turns out the internet may be fueling this unofficial phobia: a series of experiments found that online discussions of “trypophobia” (the fear of small holes) may be partially responsible for this common phenomenon.
A study of 283 people aged 19 to 22, conducted by psychologists from the Universities of Essex and Suffolk, found that a quarter of people with trypophobia had never heard of the condition.Certainly, there is a congenital aspect to this condition.
But that doesn’t mean that the element of peer influence doesn’t exist.
The team also The survey found that respondents were more likely to have trypophobia and were more sensitive to small holes if they had heard of trypophobia before.
A whopping 64% said they discovered the phenomenon on the internet or social media.
“Overall, these results suggest that the widespread presence of trypophobia on the Internet may contribute to the social learning aspect of the phenomenon, but this is not the only explanation.” write researcher.
This isn’t all that surprising, the team adds: after all, social learning is a known component of other phobias, such as fears of snakes and spiders, where “individuals are exposed to societal representations and views of a particular object and become aware of its aversion in their family members.”
However, recent findings suggest that trypophobia’s prevalence may be influenced, at least in part, by its large presence on the internet.
Trypophobia is not yet a medically recognised illness. Explained The phenomenon was first described in the scientific literature in 2013 by two psychologists from the University of Essex, one of whom is an author on the current paper. However, the name for the phenomenon is actually appeared 8 years ago In an online discussion.
Since that first official document, hundreds of news articles have been written on the subject. Visual memes are all over the internet.
But today, scientists Still struggling Whether trypophobia is a real disorder or notFears exacerbated by the internet“As some have speculated, they can’t even agree on how many people it will affect.”
In 2013, scientists settled on 15 percent of people, but by 2023, a big study A study of young people in China found that trypophobia probably affects 17.6% of people.
Psychologist Jeff Cole, who wrote the original paper in 2013, is now leading a series of experiments at the University of Essex to better understand the condition. Unlike previous studies, Cole and his team found that trypophobia affects around 10 percent of people.
While it is true that a negative experience with an event or object can trigger a phobia, it is unlikely that someone with trypophobia has ever actually felt threatened by a collection of tiny holes.
Instead, scientists was suggested Fear and disgust are evolutionary vestiges that make us feel uncomfortable because the patterns resemble things that pose a threat to human health, such as parasitic infestations, infections, or decay.
“An alternative internet explanation for trypophobia is that people who were previously unaware of the condition become aware of their sensitivity to holes and begin to look for information on the internet,” the researchers say. explain.
“The Internet confirms what people suspected before.”
This doesn’t mean that social media itself is causing trypophobia, but it suggests that online content is making people aware of feelings that may already be present – which can make them worse.
Past few times psychology the study Trypophobic images have been shown to cause discomfort in children as young as four or five, even before they are comfortable with the internet.
“Overall,” the University of Essex researchers said Conclusion“These data suggest that both social and non-social learning contribute to trypophobia.”
This study Quarterly Experiment Journal.
