Psychology of the Strange
Folklore. Fear. Dark Psychology.
Psychology of the Strange is a narrative psychology podcast that explores the eerie, the uncanny, and the deeply human. Every episode begins with an original atmospheric story rooted in dark folklore, superstition, or real events and then shifts into a psychological analysis that unpacks why these tales grip the human mind. From winter-born omens and skeletal visitors to fearlessness, moral ambiguity, and the monsters we create to explain uncertainty, this show lives in the spaces where folklore and psychology overlap.
If you like stories that linger… and explanations that cut deeper… you’re in the right place.
ABOUT THE HOST
Hosted by Tara Perreault, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of South Florida. Her research focuses on the darker edges of human nature: fearlessness, Dark Triad traits, moral ambiguity, recreational fear, and the meanings people draw from the strange and the supernatural. Tara blends academic insight with myth, atmosphere, and psychological storytelling. Her approach is part folklore study, part dark psychology, part narrative experiment. She has presented research at multiple conferences, published empirical work, and spent years studying how people make sense of fear — in haunted houses, on screen, and in the stories we pass down through generations. Psychology of the Strange is her creative extension of that work: a place where the uncanny becomes meaningful, and where every monster is really a metaphor for something we haven’t faced yet.
Listen on:
Episodes
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Take a trip down the rabbit hole with me with the curious and sometimes perplexing world of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS). Imagine lying in bed, ready to sleep, when suddenly, the room around you starts to twist and change. Everyday objects seem to warp in size, and you might even feel like your own body is transforming. We'll delve into personal accounts from individuals who've experienced AIWS, offering a glimpse into their surreal adventures.
Uncover the science behind AIWS, exploring why it happens and how it affects those who experience it. From the way AIWS distorts perception to its emotional impact, you'll gain a deeper understanding of this fascinating neurological condition.
Could Lewis Carroll, the mastermind behind Alice's adventures, have had AIWS himself? I explore this intriguing theory and uncover the evidence that suggests a connection between Carroll's own experiences and the whimsical world he created.
I also dissect some of the psychological themes hidden within the Wonderland books. From the fluidity of identity to the boundless power of imagination, discover how Lewis Carroll's tales offer insights into the human mind.
Join me for a trip behind the looking glass into the world of AIWS, Lewis Carroll, and the psychology hidden within Wonderland's pages.
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
Thursday Aug 31, 2023
The mysterious realms of sleep paralysis, explore the chilling tales of the night hag, boo hag, and other entities that have haunted cultures worldwide. But the eerie journey doesn't stop there – we'll also shed light on the phenomenon of Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome that leaves us questioning the thin veil between the realms of sleep and the unknown. Get ready to unravel the secrets that lurk in the darkness of the night, as we navigate through these haunting tales that blur the line between dreams and reality.
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Journey through time to the quaint French town of Pont Saint Espirit where reality became twisted into a nightmare for many residents. Was their shared hallucination psychological, environmental, or an experiment by the CIA?
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Reality blurs and perceptions shift in astonishing ways with Capgras Delusion, a rare psychological phenomenon that challenges our understanding of identity and cognition. Hear the chilling true crime story of Blazej Kot, a man driven by delusion to unthinkable actions. Discover the heart-wrenching case of Mary, a mother who couldn't recognize her own daughter. And Madame M who is at the epicenter of Capgras Delusion.
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Step into the shadows where superstition and psychology intertwine. In this exploration, I dive into the spine-chilling world of Bloody Mary, the legendary ghost, and the mind-bending Troxler Effect. Explore the uncanny similarities between summoning spirits and the visual tricks our mind can play. Brace yourself for a journey that blurs the lines between perception, belief, and the enigmatic realms of the mind.
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Step into the ethereal realm where melodies dance and the mind's symphony plays on, as "Psychology of the Strange" embarks on a captivating journey into the enigmatic world of musical hallucinations. From Robert Schumann to Beethoven and a French psychiatrist that studied madness and genius.
Join me on a journey through the world of musical hallucinations. Explore the haunting and eerie melodies that can live in the minds of individuals, turning their own thoughts into haunting compositions. Discover the tragic yet fascinating stories of renowned composers like Robert Schumann, Mozart, and Beethoven, who grappled with musical hallucinations. This episode dives into the intersection of genius and madness compounded with the inner struggles of these musical luminaries shaping their creativity. Explore the hallucinogenic experiments conducted by a French psychiatrist, Jacques-Joseph Moreau de Tours, and uncover whether drugs like hashish can make madness tangible or merely add to the mystery. Is there a possibility of a hidden connection between musical hallucinations and heightened sensory perception, beyond the realm of known medical conditions. Could some individuals possess a unique ability to tap into frequencies others can't perceive?
Subscribe now to "Psychology of the Strange" and join me on a journey into the uncharted territories of the human psyche.
Monday Aug 07, 2023
Monday Aug 07, 2023
An intro episode to explain the wealth of topics that you might find in an episode of Psychology of the Strange
Season 2 — Winter, Folklore, and the Psychology of the Unknown
December 2025-January 2026
Season Two steps into the deep dark of winter—where hunger, fear, and imagination have always lived closest to the surface. This season brings new folklore, psychological explorations, and narrative stories that blend myth with the emotional realities that shaped it. From the skinless terror of the Knuckelavee, to the uncanny winter-born child, to Iceland’s Yule Lads and a chilling Wendigo tale, each episode digs into why humans create monsters when the nights grow long.
These are stories about scarcity, shadows, and the strange ways the mind protects itself when the world feels uncertain. Season Two explores how culture, cognition, and fear intertwine… and why winter has always been the season of the supernatural.
Season Three — The Psychology of Evil
May 2026-June 2026
Season Three shifts into darker psychological territory, exploring the nature of evil—not as a supernatural entity, but as a deeply human phenomenon. This season will blend folklore, true crime, and psychological theory to examine why people commit horrific acts, how communities respond to violence, and what “evil” really means in the human mind.
From folkloric figures born from moral violation, to cases like the Gainesville Ripper, to the Hollow Hearted—Season Three will investigate the shadows people carry and the stories we tell to contain them.
It will be unsettling.
It will be thoughtful.
And it will go deeper than anything the podcast has explored yet.