Shadow people

Shadow people, also known as shadow figures or shadow beings,^[1] are supernatural shadow-like humanoid figures that, according to believers, are seen flickering on walls and ceilings in the viewer's peripheral vision. They are also claimed to be seen as unrecognizable fleeting shadows out of the corner of the observer's eye for just a second or two.^[1]

History

A number of religions, legends, and belief systems describe shadowy spiritual beings or supernatural entities such as shades of the underworld, and various shadowy creatures have long been a staple of folklore and ghost stories. The Coast to Coast AM late night radio radio Talk show helped popularize modern beliefs in shadow people, often describing them as dark silhouettes with human shapes and profiles that flicker in and out of peripheral vision.^[2]

Although participants in online discussion forums devoted to paranormal and supernatural topics describe them as menacing, among other believers and paranormal authors, there is no consensus that shadow people are either evil, helpful, or neutral, and some even speculate that shadow people may be the extra-dimensional inhabitants of another universe.^[2][3] Some paranormal investigators and authors such as Chad Stambaugh claim to have recorded images of shadow people on video.^[4]

[edit]Physiological conditions

A number of physiological and psychological conditions can account for reported experiences of shadow people. These include sleep paralysis,^{[5][not in citation given]} illusions,^{[6][not in citation given]} orhallucinations brought on by physiological or psychological circumstances, drug use or side effects of medication, and the interaction of external agents on the human body. Another reason that could be behind the illusion is sleep deprivation, which may lead to hallucinations.^[7]