Shadow person

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For other things named Shadowman, see Shadowman (disambiguation).
File:Shadpeeps2.jpg
An artist's conception of shadow people.
File:Shadow Creatures.jpg
A somewhat detailed analysis of "Shadows" from an eye witness.

Shadow people (also known as Shadow men, shadow folk or shadow beings) are a purported supernatural phenomenon in which observers report seeing a dark form at the edge of their field of vision that disintegrates, or moves between walls, when noticed, usually within a split second.

Reports of shadow people are similar to purported ghost sightings, but differ in that shadow people are not reported as having human features, wearing modern/period clothing, or attempting to communicate. Witnesses also do not report the same feelings of being in the presence of something that 'was once human'.

Some individuals have described being menaced, chased, or (more rarely) attacked by shadow people. Some people see them with a weapon when attacked. There have also been reports of shadow people appearing in front of witnesses or lingering for several seconds before disappearing. Typically, encounters are accompanied by a feeling of dread, although this may be simply distress of viewing such an event.

Appearance

Most accounts of shadow people describe them as black humanoid silhouettes with no discernible mouths, noses, eyes, or any expression whatsoever, though purported witnesses have also described child-sized humanoids or shapeless masses. Some reports also include glowing red eyes. Generally, they are described as lacking mass, though their specific nature varies from a two-dimensional shadow to a vaporous or distorted three-dimensional form. Alleged images of shadow people have been posted on the internet, including one of a shadow person in a cemetery.

Their movement is often described as being very quick and disjointed; they may first move slowly, as if they were passing through a heavy liquid, and then rapidly "hop" to another part of a witness' surroundings. Some witnesses describe this movement as though the shadow entities they have seen "danced" from one wall to the next.

Hypotheses

Several explanations have been proposed for the appearance of shadow people.

Paranormal

Explanations for shadow people have been drawn from the fields of parapsychology, metaphysics, cryptozoology, demonology, religion, and the occult:[1]

  • Manifest thought form (known in occult circles as egregores or tulpas): A collection of negative psychic energy, from an area where a dark or traumatic event has taken place, that has taken on form and motive, or a similar force that has been intentionally created.
  • A form of ghost.
  • An other-dimensional being whose dimension of origin occasionally overlaps with ours.
  • Many who attach religious significance to the phenomena apply more credit to the demonic explanation, especially if it is witnessed in places said to be haunted or places where an event of extreme emotional or physical trauma has taken place.
  • Some observers have made a connection between the black smoke appearance of these phenomena and the djinn of Islamic belief. The djinn are described as normally being invisible to humans and when seen having the appearance of black smoke, making them very similar in appearance to the phenomena of shadow people. However, some interpret the phenomena to represent guardian angels, warning individuals of impending danger as opposed to negative demonic beings. This could still possibly be linked to the Islamic belief in djinn because the djinn supposedly have the choice of committing good or evil acts according to Islamic belief (similar to man).
  • In Native American Cherokee mythology, there is an evil witch known as the Raven Mocker that takes the form of a spectral bird and shifts into a humanoid, shadow-like phantom. These beings are said to steal the souls of the ill or dying. Such creatures are alleged to fear the shaman or medicine man and so do not enter a home where one resides. A medicine man was sought to watch over the infirm and also to watch over the bodies of the recently deceased, as according to myth once the body was buried the Raven Mocker could not steal the soul.
  • An unattended shadow or shade (mythology) was thought by some cultures to be similar to that of a ghost, a flicker of a life unable to end for some reason. They are sometimes noticed by having their presence felt or are seen from the corner of a persons eye.
  • An watcher, sentinal sent form the beings mind to help or drive insane.

Scientific

Several non-paranormal hypothesis for the phenomena of shadow people exist, including optical illusions or hallucinations brought on by the physiological/psychological circumstances of the witnesses.

Pareidolia

In most instances, witnesses report seeing shadow people in the peripheral areas of their vision. This areas of vision is linked to the areas of the brain that recognizes patterns, however it provides less detail to the brain than Macula (Center-forward) vision. This can lead to a condition know as pareidolia, in which the brain incorrectly interprets random patterns of light/shadow or texture as being familiar patterns such as faces and human forms.[2] The same condition can also be observed in Macula vision in low light conditions, or when viewing a complex but random image. A common example would be perceiving a shadow, thrown by an item of furniture in a darkened room, as being a person.

Hypnogogia

Also known as waking-sleep, hypnogogia is a documented physiological condition in which a person is part-way between sleeping and waking.[3] During hypnogogia, a person can be conscious and aware of their environment, but also in a dream-like state where they can perceive images from their subconscious. People experiencing waking-sleep commonly report the sensation of lights or shadows moving around them, as well as other visual hallucinations. A feeling of dread is also a sensation that occurs when experiencing hypnogogia. Hypnogogia is sometimes known as 'the faces in the dark phenomenon' because sufferers commonly report seeing faces while experiencing waking-sleep.[4] Skeptics of the paranormal have also put this hypothesis forward as a possible explanation of a number of apparently paranormal experiences, including cases of alien abductions and paranormal nocturnal visitations.

Chemical agents

The use of narcotics and psychotropic agents, including methamphetamine and LSD, can produce shadow person-like hallucinations. Dopaminergic drugs such as Mirapex can sometimes cause these hallucinations.[5] Common over-the-counter medication can also have a similar effect if taken in sufficient quantity (see diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine).

Electromagnetic fields

Under the right conditions, electromagnetic fields can interfere with the functions of the Temporal lobe; creating altered states of perception in which auditory and visual hallucinations can occur.[6]

Using electromagnetic fields, researches have been able to recreate many of the experiences reported during paranormal encounters under laboratory conditions, including those of shadow people.[7][8] Researchers have also documented correlations between variances in naturally-occurring magnetic fields and areas where paranormal events have been reported.[9]

Neurological conditions

Certain neurological conditions have also been shown to cause sufferers to see shadow people.[10]

Popular culture

  • Kiyoshi Kurosawa's film Kairo (and its American adaptation Pulse) features shadow people throughout.
  • Wes Craven's They explores the concept of shadow people; first as a psychological phenomena, then as paranormal event.
  • The key villain in Geoffrey Sax's White Noise is a malevolent form of shadow person.
  • The movements and appearance of Shadow and Neo-Shadow Heartless of the Kingdom Hearts strongly resembles reports of shadow people.
  • Shadow people are referred to as "It", and are tracked by a secret society in Rick L. Winters film "The Evading"
  • Child-like shadow people appear in the elementary school in Silent Hill for the PlayStation console.
  • The enemies in Ico for the PlayStation 2 are black shadowy wraiths similar to descriptions of shadow people.
  • In the Playstation 2 game Shadow of the Colossus, shadow people are seen on several occasions. In this case, they are meant to represent the incomplete whole of the devil/god (opinions in this matter are different).
  • In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes for the Nintendo GameCube, the main antagonists, the Ing, share some traits with shadow people (though none of them are humanoid).
  • In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for the Wii and Nintendo Gamecube, there are shadowy beings which closely relate to the shadow people. The Twili from Twilight princess also relate to shadow people.
  • In the novel Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz, the protagonist sees shadow entities that feed on the suffering of the dead and dying.
  • In the online role-playing game Everquest II, the Shadow(ed) Men are dark, wispy, extra-dimensional creatures who emerge from a portal to attack players.
  • Shadow people are a frequent topic on the SOH Radio Network podcast Mysterious Universe.
  • Mephiles the Dark gained his first physical form by emerging from Shadow the Hedgehog's own shadow.
  • The book John Dies at the End written by David Wong of pointlesswasteoftime.com describes shadow people.
  • In the Xbox360 game Condemed, the main character Ethan Thomas, is stalked throughout the game by a creature call "The dark Primary" nick name "The hate". In early stages it mimics the exact behavior of real Shawdow people sightings (disinigrading in walls, moving violenly. and even some times attacking him.)

Related phenomena

References

  1. ^ http://paranormal.about.com/library/weekly/aa022502a.htm
  2. ^ Wiggins Arthur W. Wynn Charles M. (2001), "Quantum Leaps in the Wrong Direction : Where Real Science Ends...and Pseudoscience Begins," National Academies Press, ISBN 0-309-07309-X
  3. ^ Ohayon M M, Priest RG, Caulet M, Guilleminault C (1996), Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations: pathological phenomena?, The British Journal of Psychiatry (October 2006)
  4. ^ McKellar Peter (1957), "Imagination and thinking: A psychological analysis," ISBN B0007DES76
  5. ^ Falkowski, Carol L. "Methamphetamine Across America: Misconceptions, Realities and Solutions" (PDF). Hazelden Foundation. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Becker Robert O (1990) "Cross Currents," Tarcher, ISBN 0-87477-609-0
  7. ^ Persinger Michael A (2001), "The Neuropsychiatry of Paranormal Experiences" (October 2006)
  8. ^ Arzy Shahar, Seeck Margitta, Ortigue Stephanie, Spinelli Laurent, Blanke Olaf (21st September 2006) "Induction of an illusory shadow person", Nature 443 (7109): 245 - 370 (p287)
  9. ^ Wiseman, R Watt C Stevens P Greening E O'Keeffe C (2003). "An investigation into alleged 'hauntings'", The British Journal of Psychology, 94, 195-211
  10. ^ Shuper, A (2005-04-23). "Photosensitive complex partial seizures aggravated by phenytoin". Pubmed. Retrieved 2006-10-01. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

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