zombification

Zombification refers to the process by which a person is transformed into a zombie—a being typically characterized by reduced or loss of higher cognitive function, lack of self-motivated behavior, and in many depictions, renewed physical vitality after death. The portrayal varies by source; in some myths, zombies are controlled by a sorcerer or potent magic, while in others they are living corpses animated by a virus or necromantic power.

The concept is rooted in Caribbean and West African folklore. Haitian vodou legends describe zombies as individuals rendered unconscious and controllable by mystic means, a belief that entered Western culture in the early 20th century. The modern zombie as undead, flesh-eating creature emerged in late 20th-century horror cinema and literature, influencing a broad range of media.

In classic depictions, zombies are slow, unthinking, and driven by instinctual hunger; later media introduced fast, agile zombies, often infected via virus or toxin. Some stories emphasize mind control rather than undead status. Common themes include fear of contagion, loss of autonomy, social decay, and existential dread.

There is no scientifically verified human zombification. Some real-world phenomena resemble aspects of the trope, notably zombie-like control seen in the evolutionary biology of parasites such as Ophiocordyceps in insects. In neuroscience and criminology, researchers discuss brain mechanisms behind compulsion and deindividuation; however, these do not yield true zombification.

Zombification remains a versatile fictional device used in horror, science fiction, and fantasy to examine fear, control, and mortality.