According to Know Your Meme, blursed images are photographs that are simultaneously blessed and cursed. They are captivating and may require a double glance in order to fully grasp what is going on there.

Interestingly, blursed images reflect the bigger tendency of the human mind to be compelled by challenging material. This material can range from merely uncomfortable and confusing to dark and upsetting. Psychoanalysts have been observing our inner fascination with dark material, from serial killers to violence to disasters, for years.

In Bored Panda’s previous in-depth interview with Helen Marlo, a licensed clinical psychologist and Jungian psychoanalyst who provides psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and consultation, we dug deeper into this compelling topic.

“Most of us are painfully aware that darkness, what some call evil, exists. We may satisfy some human, psychological needs when we engage with it through the news, movies, or documentaries,” Helen told us.

She explained that when watching another story, and in particular, these dark and traumatic stories, we witness another person’s narrative. “Narrating one’s own story, especially if we have a story that includes trauma, is emotional and hard. Watching another’s story can give us a sense of gaining understanding or relief for 'free,' because we are hearing about another’s story but not doing any of the hard, psychological work to create our own story.” The same goes for reading self-help books and images.

Moreover, Helen explained that “by watching another’s story, we may gain a sense of control, understanding, or vicarious mastery over our own aggressive fantasies and anxieties about evil, whether we imagine ourselves in the role of the perpetrator and/or victim.”

For example, watching the Jeffrey Dahmer story gives us at least one version of a real-life story of a serial killer. “We may feel as if we have a better understanding of senseless violence and the irrationalities of evil by becoming immersed in learning about one person’s story. His story is a mixture of elements—some common and some uncommon—which enables us to compare and contrast this story with our own life story and our own fears, wishes, and/or fantasies.”

It doesn't mean, however, that blursed images offer exactly this type of experience. While being uncomfortable and sometimes upsetting, they also offer the opposite effect - which is interesting, cute, and relatable. These two opposite poles combined together provide the viewer with a unique viewing experience that challenges our perception of things being only good or bad, black or white.