Creepiest Kids
- ARTPENDIX ARTICLE
- Jan 11
- 10 min read
Updated: Jan 19
“Creepy kids” in art may refer to how strangely children were depicted for much of the medieval and early Renaissance period, especially in religious images of the Christ Child. These children often look like stiff, shrunk‑down adults rather than naturalistic kids, which many modern viewers find eerie or unsettling.
Medieval “little adults” in medieval European painting, most children shown are actually baby Jesus, painted as a homunculus (“little man”) to emphasize that he was fully formed and divine from birth, not a soft, ordinary baby. Because church commissions dominated, this adult‑faced Christ became a visual template, so other children in religious scenes were also painted with mature faces, long limbs, and serious expressions instead of childlike proportions.
One of the best‑known “weird kids” art motifs in history is the medieval and early Renaissance Madonna and Child, where the infant Jesus is painted as a stiff, uncanny “little man” rather than a cute baby. These images are famous precisely because the Christ Child often has an adult face, elongated body, and solemn expression that look bizarre to modern viewers, even though they were completely conventional in their time.
Numerous 13th–14th-century Italian Madonna and Child panels, including those by artists like Berlinghiero or Paolo Veneziano, depict Jesus with a mature, somewhat stern expression and a stiff posture. Today, these are often shared online as "cursed medieval baby" images.
Duccio’s depictions of the Virgin and Child are often cited because, even as they become more tender and naturalistic, the child’s face can still read as oddly adult and weathered to a modern eye.
Why these kids look so “wrong”? The look comes from the theological idea of the homuncular Christ: Jesus was understood as fully formed and unchanging, so artists painted him like a miniature adult to stress his divinity, not his cuteness.
Since most painted children were religious (mainly Jesus), that style shaped how “kids” looked in a huge swath of medieval art, creating the now‑famous gallery of strange, meme‑worthy holy toddlers. Lists of the "ugliest" or "creepiest" depictions of Jesus in art frequently spotlight these medieval Madonnas, making them viral examples of unsettling infants in renowned paintings.
Do creepy children truly exist? This question resonates through history, tracing back to medieval art and modern genetic studies. A prominent instance of this exploration is the notorious Lebensborn project, initiated during World War II by the Nazi regime, as documented in "public history records."
Lebensborn e.V., translating to "Fount of Life," was a secret organization established by the SS and officially registered in Nazi Germany. Its declared goal was to increase the birth rate of children who met the Nazi criteria of being "racially pure" and "healthy" Aryans, based on the principles of Nazi eugenics, often called "racial hygiene" by its supporters.
In the quest to comprehend the genes of exceptionally gifted children, an anticipated result surfaces—the identification of the creepiest children as well.
XYY syndrome (older name: Supermale syndrome), a genetic condition in which a male has an extra Y chromosome (47,XYY).
XYY (47,XYY) means each cell has one X and two Y chromosomes instead of the usual one X and one Y, for a total of 47 chromosomes. It occurs in about 1 in 1,000 male births and often goes undiagnosed because many affected males have few or no obvious physical differences. And this diagnosis is only confirmed in men.
In the 1960s, some institutes initiated research suggesting that XYY males were aggressive "supermales." It was believed that these XYY males were more likely to engage in violent crime or suffer from severe mental illness compared to other males. However, the "supermale" label was later deemed inaccurate and stigmatizing due to incomplete research. Who terminated this project?
A group of boys and men with XYY are taller than average with mild motor delays, or lower muscle tone. There is an increased diagnosis of learning difficulties (especially language and reading), speech delay, ADHD, and Autism, but overall intelligence is usually in the normal range. Puberty, testosterone levels, and sexual development are generally typical, and the majority of affected men are capable of fathering children. Many do not experience significant health issues; when they do occur, they are often addressed through speech and educational support, behavioral therapy, and standard medical care.
Diagnosis is conducted through chromosome testing (karyotype), either prenatally (such as through amniocentesis) or postnatally when developmental or learning difficulties prompt suspicion. Beneficial supports may involve early speech therapy, personalized educational plans, behavioral interventions, and regular consultations with pediatricians or genetic specialists.
Children with XYY syndrome, also known as "supermale syndrome," often experience behavioral challenges related to attention, impulse control, and social interaction, although individual differences are significant. Boys with XYY are consistently noted to have a heightened risk of symptoms resembling ADHD, including issues with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Many face difficulties with behavioral self-regulation, such as following rules, maintaining focus on tasks, or adapting to changes in routine.
Emotional and social issues may involve temper tantrums, quick or intense anger, defiant actions, and antisocial behaviors in some individuals. There is an increased likelihood of traits associated with the autism spectrum, such as difficulty interpreting social cues, understanding others' emotions, and developing peer relationships appropriate for one's age.
Practical indicators observed by parents/teachers in two categories of XYY boys:
I, Frequent tantrums or aggressive outbursts, such as hitting, throwing, or shouting, particularly when feeling frustrated or overwhelmed; highly destructive actions, antisocial behaviors, and a strong drive to win. Being very active or constantly on the move, having a short attention span, being easily distracted, facing behavioral issues at school, and struggling with friendships or being easily influenced by peers.
II, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is significantly more common in children with XYY syndrome than in the general population, with research consistently showing rates of 20-40% or higher. XYY boys without full ASD often still show milder autistic traits, such as social communication challenges or difficulty with peer relationships.
Among these, the most unique situations are found in XYY children from single-parent families who struggle with identity recognition issues. Single-parent households might face additional stress from handling these challenges without the support of a co-parent.
The emotional connection between a mother and a father is inherently different. A normal child growing up without the presence and care of either parent might face lasting regret that's hard to overcome, resulting in confusion and resentment about their upbringing. This can lead to questions about the absence of a mother or father, triggering feelings of abandonment and a desire to understand why they left.
For instance, if a normal boy grows up in a single-parent family without a father, his lack of fatherly love may possibly be carried over into his adulthood or throughout his entire life. Then during this boy's adolescence, he will have an abnormal interest and curiosity towards men. This boy may seek the missing fatherly love from men. When a concept of "love is love" is implanted in the education system and psychological counseling during adolescence, this boy may find it difficult to distinguish between his father's love, his friends' love, his male teachers' love and the love of the opposite sex. During the period when male hormones are vigorously secreted in adolescence, this boy may develop a strong interest and desire for men. Then in a context where "love is love", this boy would self-confirm that he is homosexual. A boy longs for fatherly love grows up in a collective, there is a possible phenomenon - he knows women better than men and knows men better than women. For adults, once this boy becomes a man, he knows how to please both men and women through disguise than others.
However, in common, most adolescent boys and girls' curiosity about the opposite sex is accompanied by shyness or exploration. So boys will first choose to be friends with boys and spend most of their time playing with boys, while girls play with girls.
In a specific case: if a normal boy discovers his father was enticed by another woman due to infidelity in his marriage during his childhood (this scenario is a prevalent cause of single-parent families), which could result in several common outcomes:
1, The boy feels sympathy for his mother but developed a dislike for other women.
2, The boy may be more protective of his mother and hate women who break up other people's families.
3,The boy started watching women who enticed men, learning their methods, and advised his mother to use the same tactics to win his father back.
4,The boy feels depressed and helpless regarding his mother's unfortunate situation. He experiences jealousy and even disgust towards children who come from happy, affluent families, wondering, "Why don't I have what others have?" (This sentiment is quite common.)
Uncommon consequences include:
1, The boy resents his mother for not being charming. He starts watching women, mimicking them, and learning what men desired, using these tactics to attract men in an attempt to compensate for the absence of paternal affection. He may compare himself to other women, thinking that this would help him reclaim his father's attention. Since his father left due to an affair with a woman, he aspired to become like her.
In this particular situation, the therapeutic support provided by friends, psychological counselors, teachers, and psychiatrists will be crucial, particularly regarding gender perception.
2, The boy possesses all the previously mentioned traits and has a strong urge to win over straight men who are unable to accept gays. He wishes for every man to fall in love with other men and become homosexual, separating all families with happiness, because he wants every child to experience what he has endured. If this boy is raised in an environment filled with discrimination, ridicule, and insults, the effects will be even more pronounced.
What if this boy is also diagnosed with XYY (“supermale syndrome”), the possible outcomes could be speculated as:
1, Targeting men who can't accept gays and devastating murdering this cluster (you must die, if you don't love me); and separating straight men and gays is the first key.
2, Destroy children from wealthy and happy families, assaulting them physically, mentally, and health-wise, separating them from parents (I don't have a happy family, and I don't want you to have one either. I want you to experience misfortune just like me.)
3, Separating relationship, family, and trust between men and women, through cases of sexual assault, harassment, and murder.
4, Gain power and status, one must overcome and rise above men, conquer all men like army - only when men obey me do they belong to me. (If my father obeyed me, he would not leave me.) This is the origin of the name "Supermale Syndrome".
5, Control genes, fertility, and health industries, let rich and happy heterosexual families to have disabled children.
However, this rare case occurs in about 1 child in every 2,000 boys' families.
Psychological counseling and behavioral research play a vital role in treating XYY "supermale syndrome." The psychological condition is assessed through guidance and by drawing conclusions and judgments based on observations of the child's possible behaviors.
In XYY ("supermale syndrome") research, the Barnum Effect is frequently utilized. This cognitive bias occurs when individuals perceive vague and general personality descriptions as highly accurate for themselves, even though these descriptions could easily apply to a wide range of people. The Barnum Effect helps clarify why horoscopes, psychic readings, and certain "personality tests" can seem remarkably precise, even though they rely on broad statements.
The Barnum Effect (also called the Forer Effect) describes the tendency to accept generic personality feedback as uniquely descriptive of oneself. These descriptions are usually broad, somewhat flattering, and compatible with many different people’s experiences (for example, “You sometimes doubt whether you’ve made the right decisions in life” "Do you find it more enjoyable to be around men than women?"). This is actually a form of psychological suggestion and also a way to collect information from the patient.
Statements are often ambiguous or dual-sided ("Sometimes you are social, yet you also appreciate to be alone"), enabling individuals to meet them with their own specific experience. The effect is stronger when people believe the description is personalized, when they trust the source as an authority, and when the feedback is mostly positive or validating.
Typical areas include astrology, fortune telling, psychic readings, aura readings, and certain non-scientific personality quizzes. Marketing, political slogans, and motivational content often use broad, aspirational phrases that many people can see themselves in, which can create a sense of personal resonance.
Most frequently found on the widely used dating app Tinder, as well as various dating platforms for homosexual and transgender individuals, among others.
On apps like Tinder, the Barnum Effect shows up when users treat very vague, generic statements as if they were uniquely about them, which can make matches seem more special or compatible than they really are. This can boost perceived connection and engagement, but also makes people more vulnerable to manipulation and disappointment on the app. Meanwhile users' private information and preferences are collected immediately by database system.
In short bios that use broad traits like “I’m an introvert who loves going out sometimes,” many users see themselves or their ideal partner in these generic lines and feel an exaggerated sense of fit if they look also good.
Your marriage isn't determined by fate; it's created through an algorithm.
Tinder already emphasizes appearance and rapid judgment, so users are primed to fill in gaps with their own hopes and assumptions when they see open-ended or flattering descriptions.
The Barnum Effect can make matches feel more “meant to be,” increasing swiping, messaging, and emotional investment based on thin, generic information.
It can also contribute to disappointment or burnout when real-life interactions do not match the idealized, self-generated image users built from those vague cues.
How researchers study it?
Pretend as pickup-artist style openers sometimes use scripted “you’re the type of person who…” lines that sound insightful but are designed to fit most recipients, creating a false sense of being deeply understood. Profiles and prompts may intentionally stay broad and flattering (“looking for real connections, no drama”) to maximize the number of people who will project their own desires onto the person behind the profile.
Therefore, the more precisely gender categories are differentiated, the more accurately users' private information can be gathered.
When a person's standards and preferences for choosing a spouse are fully systematized, their marriage can be systematically set. When marriage can be systematized, then the gene of children born can also be standardized. This includes the person's health condition, as well as any potential chronic illness that may occur and their treatments, all of which can be systematized.
As a result, people have noticed a particular phenomenon: most gay men are attractive, with good look and nice body-build; whereas straight men are either creepily malnourished or overnourished. This situation can leave straight women feeling confused, frustrated, and distrustful - attractive men are no longer available to fall in love with women. Additionally, jealousy and misunderstandings between gay and straight men may intensify.
Your marriage is an algorithm. Those professors, teachers, and scholars are researching while possibly being studied. Those rich people get stunners, while stunners are already set to wait. The true love and freedom that gays cry out are under a systematic cage. So, who are you?
Aya Burhan
Gozde Karakose
Istanbul, Turkiye
10:25 PM, Sun
Jan 01, 2026
Co-writing by Artpendix Team
Comments