Why did the ghost find a substitute?
In folklore and horror stories, "ghosts looking for substitutes" is an enduring theme. People often wonder why ghosts are obsessed with finding a substitute? What are some cultural, psychological, or supernatural explanations behind this phenomenon? This article will explore this mysterious phenomenon based on the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. The cultural background of ghosts looking for substitutes

Legends of ghosts looking for doubles are particularly common in East Asian cultures, especially Chinese, Japanese and Korean folktales. This kind of legend is usually related to "unnatural death" (abnormal death). People believe that the ghost of a sudden death cannot be reincarnated smoothly and must find a substitute to escape.
| cultural area | Features of Stand Legend | Common ways to stand in |
|---|---|---|
| China | Water ghosts and hanged ghosts are looking for substitutes | Lure others into drowning or hanging |
| Japan | Qiao Ji and Deng Nu are looking for substitutes | Lure others into jumping into the river |
| South Korea | The resentful ghost is looking for a substitute | Possession, causing accidents |
2. Explanation from a psychological perspective
From a psychological point of view, the legend of "ghost looking for a substitute" reflects human beings' fear of death and special concern for abnormal death. This legend may originate from the following psychological mechanisms:
1.projection mechanism: People project their fear of death onto ghosts, thinking that they are also afraid of being "alone" in the underworld.
2.fair world hypothesis: People tend to believe that the world is fair, and therefore believe that people who die violently need to "pass on" their misfortune.
3.Alert function: Such stories often serve as warnings, warning people to stay away from dangerous places and behaviors.
3. The topic of "substitute" in recent hot topics on the Internet
In the past 10 days, discussions about supernatural events have continued to become more popular on the Internet. Here are a few relevant hot spots:
| Date | hot events | Discussion popularity |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-11-01 | An Internet celebrity disappeared after visiting a "ghost building" during a live broadcast | No. 3 on the hot search list |
| 2023-11-03 | Trailer of movie "The Stand" released | View count exceeded 5 million |
| 2023-11-05 | Psychology experts explain the "substitute complex" | Top 10 popular science videos |
| 2023-11-08 | Continuous drowning incidents in a certain reservoir have sparked heated debate | Top local news |
4. Comparison between scientific explanations and supernatural views
Regarding the phenomenon of "ghosts looking for substitutes", there are obvious differences between scientific and supernatural opinions:
| opinion type | Main explanation | supporting evidence |
|---|---|---|
| scientific opinion | Collective hallucinations, coincidental events, psychological suggestions | Similar environments lead to similar accidents |
| supernatural perspective | The soul does exist and needs a substitute | Eyewitness testimony, unexplained coincidences |
5. How to prevent the folk wisdom of "being used as a substitute"
Although science cannot prove the existence of ghosts, there are many ways to prevent being "used as a substitute" among the people. These methods reflect the wisdom of the ancients and their emphasis on safety:
1.Avoid being near water at night: Folks believe that water ghosts are the most common substitutes.
2.Do not respond to unfamiliar calls at will: Legend has it that ghosts will imitate the voices of familiar people to lure their victims.
3.Wear amulets: Such as jade pendants, charms, etc., which are considered to be able to ward off evil spirits and avoid evil.
4.stay positive: Folks believe that weak-willed people are more likely to be targeted by ghosts.
6. The image of "substitute" in modern culture
In modern pop culture, the concept of "stand-in" has been given new connotations and is no longer limited to horror themes:
1.Film and television works: For example, the recently popular movie "The Stand" explores the philosophical issue of identity substitution.
2.Internet slang: "Finding a substitute" has been extended to mean finding someone to take the blame and transfer responsibility.
3.psychological terminology: "Substitute syndrome" refers to the psychological state in which some people always live in the shadow of others.
No matter from which angle you look at it, the question "Why do ghosts find substitutes" reflects human beings' deep thinking about life and death, fairness and the meaning of existence. It is not only an integral part of folk culture, but also an interesting topic for psychological research and an eternal theme of literary and artistic creation. While enjoying these mysterious stories, we should also maintain rational thinking and pay attention to safety issues in real life.
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