Style: Psychological Horror

Psychological horror is a literary device that aims to create a sense of unease, dread, and terror in the reader's mind by exploring disturbing psychological and emotional themes.

Why a writer would use it

A writer would use psychological horror to deeply unsettle the reader, tapping into their innermost fears and anxieties.

It allows the writer to create a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the story ends.

Use-case

In a psychological horror story, the main character might be struggling with a mental illness or trauma that distorts their perception of reality.

The writer could use vivid descriptions of the character's disturbing thoughts and hallucinations to create a sense of mounting dread and confusion for the reader.

A couple more examples:

1. Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart"

This classic short story uses psychological horror to portray the narrator's descent into madness, as he becomes increasingly obsessed with an old man's "vulture eye."

2. Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House"

This novel employs psychological horror to explore the main character's mental fragility and the malevolent influence of the titular haunted house on her psyche.

Effect on AI prompts

When using psychological horror elements in AI prompts, the generated results may become more unsettling, eerie, and emotionally charged.

The AI might produce content that delves into the darker aspects of the human mind, creating an atmosphere of unease and dread.

However, it's important to use these elements thoughtfully to avoid generating content that is too disturbing or potentially triggering for some readers.