Why does one person see a demon upon experiencing sleep paralysis, while a second person sees a djinn and a third sees a witch? Researchers from Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia, led by Fariya Fatima Khan, conducted 23 in-depth interviews to examine three factors—culture, religion, and gender—that may influence the demons that appear during episodes of sleep paralysis.
Pakistan consists of five provinces, each with its own folklore and fairy tales. Some of these tales associate sleep paralysis with a demon that strangles people, while others describe a female djinn with long hair and her legs turned backward. The researchers hypothesized that our hallucinations depend on what scary stories we were told as children.
Since Pakistan is a Muslim country, many people read prayers from the Quran to ward off evil spirits, while others acquire amulets. This helps them stay calm, even if the monster does not disappear. Women are especially likely to seek protection in religion, whereas men are more likely to perceive an encounter with a demon as a test of strength or an attack. Interestingly, men usually see female demons, while women tend to see male demons.
Does your experience with sleep paralysis confirm this?
The article was published in January 2025 in the Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry.
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