"Sleep Paralysis and the Business of Fear: A Scientific Study on Awareness, Experience, and Misconceptions in Society"
Achyuta Nand Tiwari
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) April 12, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19524176 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Survey |
|---|---|
| Population | Two age groups |
| Keywords | Superstition Sleep paralysis Scientific study Falling accident Sleep system call Scientific evidence Developmental psychology |
| Key findings | Education and awareness can significantly reduce fear and superstition associated with sleep paralysis. |
Abstract
Sleep paralysis is a temporary condition in which a person is unable to move or speak while waking up or falling asleep. Although it has a clear scientific explanation related to REM sleep and brain-body coordination, many people still associate it with supernatural beliefs.This study aims to analyze the experiences of individuals and understand how fear, lack ofawareness, and societal beliefs contribute to misconceptions. The research also highlightsthe existence of a “fear-based belief system” in society, where individuals such as tantriks orojha babas take advantage of such phenomena. A primary survey was conducted amongtwo age groups to study awareness and experiences. The findings suggest that educationand awareness can significantly reduce fear and superstition