Oddly enough, slime videos are satisfying

With the internet being flooded with so much content, one element that’s proving immensely popular is the oddly satisfying slime video. These videos encompass everything from watching pressure washers clean pavements to marbled cake glazing and industrial machines cutting through ice, which are often tagged as “oddly satisfying.” But what is the odd psychology behind them? Talking about these videos, Swarnalatha Iyer, industrial psychologist, believes they are a way of venting one’s pent up aggression. “All of us have a level of aggression within us but many don’t have the courage to deal with it. Talking in context of voyeuristic pleasure, this is a way of obtaining indirect satisfaction. Thus, experiencing the emotions of actually doing it.”

Slime videos that numerous people indulge in, is also a mirror of the society. Iyer believes that as a society we have become more aggressive — not necessarily in action but our tolerance towards aggression has increased. “Everyday the newspaper and television is full of violence. Many television shows and films are violent. So, as a society, we are constantly exposed to so much violence that our tolerance towards it has increased. This is also an indication of increased aggression,” shares Iyer, adding, “With the social media available to everyone, the consumption of violent material increases, thus, making it easy for people to enter a virtual world and finding themselves a way to release the bottled up aggression.”

“I find these videos relaxing,” says 23- year- old Yash who often finds himself watching a series of such “oddly satisfying” videos after an exhausting day of classes, events and hanging out with friends.