Sleep paralysis: at intersection of biology and folklore
RUDN Journal of Studies in Literature and Journalism October 13, 2022 Polina B. Povetkina
Sleep paralysis is examined through both biological and folk-cultural lenses. The concept's key components, including the interplay between biological and cultural factors, are outlined. The work describes possible interpretations of sleep paralysis, mythological figures tied to it in global folklore, and the folklore genres that reflect it. Examples of narratives about sleep paralysis are provided, both within and outside cultural traditions where such mythological characters are known, as well as an instance of these characters appearing in non-mythological folklore genres.