A doppelgänger is a distinct double of a person that can be seen. It's often thought of as a bad omen or evil entity, but is often used casually as a description of someone who closely resembles you.
There may actually be a medical reason for seeing doppelgängers in real life.
- With electrical stimulation to the temporoparietal (that's the side of the brain, towards the back) part of the brain, a woman could distinctly feel the presence of a sinister double copying her actions. (See full article in NatureNews)
- Syndrome of subjective doubles, or Syndrome of Christodoulou is an unusual delusional syndrome whereby a person believes a doppelgänger who looks like them but acts differently, is out in the world leading a separate life. Often it is caused by mental illness or neurological problems in the right temporal lobe of the brain. There may be some overlap with Capgras delusion ("Are You My Mother?"), which I've blogged about.
In literature, doppelgängers as fantasty elements have been Edgar Allen Poe's short story "William Wilson"and Dostoyevsky's short story "The Double: A Peterson Poem."
Anyone see the movie Black Swan? Natalie Portman's doppelgänger should have won best supporting actress!
Have any of you read a good novel lately portraying a doppelgänger?
Please keep in mind this post is for writing purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice.
If you've got a fictional medical question, let me know! Post below or email me at
All I ask is that you become a follower and post a link on your blog when I post your answer.
Also, don't forget to check out Laura Diamond's Mental Health Mondays and Sarah Fine's The Strangest Situation!
52 comments:
I had no idea there was a medical basis for this. You're making me smarter one post at a time!
Interesting! I haven't seen Black Swan, but I've heard a lot about it and will see it once it hits Red Box!
Hmm. I'm not sure if I've read William Wilson. I'm a big Poe fan so it's time to look that one up. Thanks for the info.
Wow, I'd never even heard of this one... would make an interesting ingredient in a character!
The most interesting book I've ever read about a doppelganger was Charles Williams' Descent Into Hell, which is a kind of theological thriller (he was a contemporary of CS Lewis). I think he portrays his character's fear of meeting her double quite well--it gave me chills.
I love this stuff!
I suppose the most recent doppleganger story I'm familiar with (other than Black Swan) is the Vampire Diaries--haven't read the books, but watch the show, LOL!
That's fascinating! Sounds like a great basis for a story.
Totally agree with you about Natalie Portmann and black swan!
I didn't realize there was real reasons behind the dopelganger stuff! How AWESOME (though not for those experiencing it)!
Wow, this is just totally fascinating. And it does sound like a great storyline. What was that old fairy tale, or was it Dickens? The Prince and the Pauper?
That's so interesting. I didn't know seeing doppelgangers was an actual condition. It reminds me of How I Met Your Mother--each of the main characters sees his/her doppelganger.
Bizzaro Superman or Seinfeld?
Wow, I didn't know this could be an actual medical condition. Fascinating! I love these posts. :)
My WIP has a bit of a doppelganger thing going on, but it's planned.
Love it! I knew about doppelgangers, but not in this detail. Very interesting!
Ooh, so maybe Lincoln's doppelganger was a vampire hunter, what fun!
This is really interesting! I actually haven't read any novels that involve dopplegangers. A great idea!
Doppelgangers are a fun concept to play with in our writing. I used the Doppeleganger of Dr. Watson in a Sherlock Holmes novel, JILL THE RIPPER.
Sadly, it burned up along with many other of my earlier writings. Have a great new week, Roland
That so creeps me out! What an interesting device for a plot though. I think I read a book with that recently...Riven? Not sure, but it was very unsettling.
Edge of Your Seat Romance
Whenever I think of Doppelganger I always think of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode titled the Doppelganger. A vampire Willow from another dimension is brought into theirs. The idea has interested me ever since but it's really fascinating to know some of the science behind it (not the whole vampire thing but the doppelganger phenomenon, lol). I just adore this blog feature.
I used to get scared of running into a doppelganger when I was MUCH younger. I blame some cruddy Lifetime movie for that fear. :P
Interesting post. I had no idea people in real life experienced this. I've always dreamed of having a few doppelgangers for cleaning and cooking and such. ;-)
I either have the second one or Brad Pitt is really evil and trying to make me look bad!
Doppelgangers and evil twins. I've read a lot of both, but not such much of either in real life.
I've heard this term but didn't realize what it meant. This would make for an interesting plot! Thanks, as always, for the info. ;)
Scary!
I've always wondered about this. Thanks!
Freaky! Either way is freaking. An actual me running around or I'm insane. Geez. ;)
If I remember right, Goethe even cut off ears due to his mental illness.
This is so fascinating! I have actually never heard of this. I also had no idea that Abraham Lincoln suffered from it.
Fascinating as always! I didn't know what a doppelganger was.
I also didn't know this was a real diagnosis. So interesting. Now that I know what this is, Black Swan is a perfect example.
The Double by Dostoyevsky!
That Nature article is so creepy!! Wow. Thanks for the link - the poor brain is such a delicate but very powerful entity!! Amazing, thank you! take care
x
Black Swan was the first thing I thought when I read your bullet about the electrical stimulation and the sinister other being a copycat! Haha.
Very interesting stuff.
Interesting. I did read a story about dopplegangers a long time ago. Don't remember the name of the novel. It had to do with Druids and Stonehenge and stuff.
Great post. I've bookmarked this, as I've written about a doppelganger in my latest WIP. Thanks for the information!
Poe's "William Wilson" came to mind immediately. Not to mention I'm a huge Edgar Allen Poe fan.
(Hugs)Indigo
Dopplegangers were potrayed in Virginia Andrews FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC series. And now the very famous Vampire Diaries have one of it's main character's doppleganger arriving!
Your post was interesting. Thanks.
Wow, as soon as you mentioned mental illness I thought of Black Swan--totally agree re best supporting actress! Didn't know there was an actual medical basis for it, though. Thanks! (do you think soap operas' evil twin characters are just dumbed-down doppelgangers?)
Soap operas have evil twin sisters, but that's not the same is it?
I haven't seen Black Swan. I want to but it looks pretty intense.
I thought evil Doppelgangers all had goatees:)
Can I just say I LOVE your medical Mondays. I always find the posts fascinating and learning something new is always a plus.
How strange! The idea of doppelgangers freaks me out!
When I've seen this used, I don't think I thought of it as a doppelganger.
I have heard of Doppelganger, but had no idea that there was a medical reason for them. Lydia, thankyou for increasing my knowledge. :)
Again, I thought this was just a fictional element used by writers. How fascinating that it's real, wow!
Abraham Lincoln? Wow! Thanks for a great post!
As usual, this is a fascinating post. I don't even know how this knowledge might come in handy in my life, but it's just so interesting. I was surprise to know that Dostoyevsky describes this syndrome.
I know I've said this before but I absolutely love these posts! I actually almost went this way with my new WIP but decided on a different direction. *wiggles fingers in mysterious and elusive way*
I haven't read a book on it, but I think it would be riveting! The suspense would be awesome! You could go so many ways with it. Nice inspirational post!
oh, I SO agree about Black Swan, and ew. Creepiness re: that Abe Lincoln thing.
So what's the explanation for deja vu? I've been experiencing it a bit lately... lately. :D <3
Super cool post . . . now I have an idea that would make a great short story. Thanks Lydia! These Medical Mondays are awesome :)
This is an interesting issue. I haven't read any stories like that recently but when I was a kid I remember watching and reading lots of stories like that. And being intrigued by the idea that there might be someone who looked just like me out there in the world, living there life.
Jai
I never knew that this was based on a real disorder. I always learn so much from these posts. :)
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