Sleep Paralysis
Do people that view sleep paralysis as supernatural or morally charged experience greater fear than those that view it medically or physiologically?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59526/soh.15.63514Abstract
Sleep paralysis (SP) manifests physiologically the same universally. But it has historically been interpreted through diverse cultural, supernatural, and moral frameworks. Taking the salience hypothesis into consideration, this paper examines whether individuals in societies that interpret SP through supernatural or morally charged lenses experience greater fear than those who view it as a medical or physiological phenomenon. A comparative literature review was conducted, synthesizing findings from ten peer-reviewed studies found in the database PsycINFO. The reviewed evidence consistently demonstrates that cultural frameworks have a correlation with more intense fear in SP. Cross-national, immigrant, and clinical studies show that supernatural explanations, such as attacks by spirits, demons, or ghosts, heighten fear, panic, and distress, whereas physiological interpretations are associated with a reduced emotional impact.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Cristhina Benito
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