Baland Jalal of the University of Cambridge in England has conducted multiple studies on the cultural impact of sleep paralysis in different countries. This time the researcher turned to Italy and the Italian’s experience of this phenomenon. The author hypothesized that the supernatural ideas about the nature of sleep paralysis, widespread among Italians, would affect the prevalence of this phenomenon.
Jalal and his colleagues conducted a survey among 67 respondents from the Abruzzo region. This place is known for its rich folklore traditions. All participants had experienced sleep paralysis at least once in their lives. As the authors suggested, Italians reported a high incidence of sleep paralysis throughout their lives – about 21 episodes per respondent.
The authors also drew attention to how varied and impressive the experiences of the Italians were. More than a third of them associated this phenomenon with the local legend of Pandafeche – a witch who appears in the form of a cat or a woman. About 42% of the respondents said they were afraid of dying from sleep paralysis.
Of the participants, 78% saw strange hallucinations including: a red hand, fluorescent eyes, a clump of hair moving in the air, their own body eaten by a tiger, and space aliens. During sleep paralysis, many of them experienced intense emotions, ranging from excitement to anger. This suggests that it is not only cultural traditions but also national temperaments that affect the perception of this state.
The study was published in the journal Transcultural Psychiatry in March 2020.
