Shadow people: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Shadow-people zpsaa95af9a.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'''Untitled''' by '''[[Anonymous]]''' - An accurate representation of the experience of shadow people.]]

'''Shadow people''' are a common hallucination for humans to have. They usually appear as a result of [[sleep deprivation]], [[psychoactive substances]]s, or [[Lucid_Dreaming#Internally_Sourced_Sensory_Input|hypnagogic states]]. During this experience, the subject perceives a patch of shadow in their peripheral vision or focused visual field to be a living, autonomous figure. This figure can be either animal-like or humanoid in appearance. This ~~hallucination~~ is often accompanied with a feeling of intense [[paranoia]] and [[anxiety]].

'''Shadow people''' are a very common visual hallucination for humans to have. They usually appear as a result of [[sleep deprivation]], [[psychoactive substances]]s, or [[Lucid_Dreaming#Internally_Sourced_Sensory_Input|hypnagogic states]] and can be considered a sub-type of [[autonomous entities]]. During this experience, the subject perceives a patch of shadow in their peripheral vision or focused visual field to be a living, autonomous figure. This figure can be either animal-like or humanoid in appearance. This hallucinatory state is often accompanied with a feeling of intense [[paranoia]] and [[anxiety]].

~~</onlyinclude>~~

~~==Visual component==~~

The visual [[external hallucinations]] usually appear as initial fleeting images out of the corner of the eyes, in the peripheral vision. As time progresses, however, the hallucinations may appear in full view and one will be able to look directly at them, even being able to look away and look back at the entity without a change in the hallucination. This progression is the same whether you are experiencing shadow people from sleep deprivation or from stimulant psychosis.

The ~~bodies~~ of the ~~shadow people are usually a type of blackness that has a sense of depth with few facial or bodily features. The blackness~~ of the ~~body seems almost opaque - it's like looking into a black hole~~ in ~~anthropomorphic form~~. ~~They sometimes~~ appear to ~~have faces~~ and are ~~able to move~~ or ~~change shape~~.

The visual [[external hallucinations]] usually appear as initial fleeting images out of the corner of the eyes, in the peripheral vision. As time progresses, however, the hallucinations may appear in full view and one will be able to look directly at them, even being able to look away and look back at the entity without a change in the hallucination. This progression is typically the same whether you are experiencing shadow people from sleep deprivation or from stimulant psychosis.

~~Multiple~~ shadow people ~~can~~ occupy ~~the~~ field of vision ~~at once,~~ acting autonomously from one another~~. This can occur in the peripheral vision or in the focused field of vision~~.

The bodies of the shadow people are usually perceived as a type of blackness that has a sense of depth with few facial or bodily features. The blackness of the body often seems almost opaque as if one is looking into a "black hole" in anthropomorphic form. They sometimes appear to have faces and are able to move or change shape. It is also possible for multiple shadow people to occupy one's field of vision simultaneously while acting autonomously from one another.

~~==Auditory~~ component==

Although it is not an intrinsic part of this hallucinatory component, shadow people can potentially be accompanied by other sensory components aside from one's visual perception of them. This is typically infrequent and usually only occurs during very intense states of sleep deprivation, [[delirium]] or [[psychosis]]. For example, shadow people can potentially have an accompanying "voice", despite the common lack of a mouth structure. This auditory communication follows an identical [[Autonomous_entities#Communication_styles|leveling system]] of progressively more detailed and coherent spoken word in the same manner as a generic [[Autonomous_entities|autonomous entity]].

~~Occasionally~~, ~~the~~ visual ~~representation~~ of a shadow ~~person~~ can have an accompanying "voice", despite the common lack of a mouth structure.

</onlyinclude>

When communicated with through spoken word, the level of coherency in which these entities can communicate with is highly variable but can be broken down into four distinct levels. These are listed below as:

~~# '''Silence''' -~~ This ~~level can be defined as a complete unresponsiveness from the side of the entity and~~ an ~~incapability of speech despite their obvious presence within the hallucination.~~

#'''Partially defined incoherent speech''' - This level can be defined as audible linguistic conversational responses and noises which sound like words but do not contain any real content or meaning beyond a vague sense of ~~emotional intent.~~

~~#'''Fully defined incoherent speech''' - This level can be defined as audible linguistic conversational responses and noises which contain fully defined~~ and ~~understandable words but often lack grammatical structure or an overall sense of general coherency.~~

~~#'''Partially defined~~ coherent ~~speech''' - This level can be defined~~ as ~~audible linguistic conversational responses and noises which contain fully defined and understandable words with~~ a ~~partially defined grammatical structure and general coherency which conveys its point on a level which may not always be fully understandable but is still capable of conveying a general point~~.

#'''Fully defined coherent speech''' - This level can be defined as audible linguistic conversational responses which contain understandable words and a fully defined grammatical sentence structures or an overall sense of general coherency which conveys its point on a level that is on par with that of own intellect.

==Tactile component==

Rarely, shadow people can cause [[tactile hallucinations]] that are indistinguishable from a real human touch. These physical sensations can be moderate in temperature, but they can also be cold to the touch. Pulling of clothing, hair, or the skin has been reported by some individuals.

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==Accompanying mental states==

These hallucinations are often perceived as being malicious due to intense [[Paranoia|paranoia]] and [[Anxiety|anxiety]] that often occur simultaneously. [[Tactile hallucinations]], feelings of convincing physical sensations that are not actually occurring within reality, may occur. [[Auditory hallucinations]] may also manifest themselves, causing one to perceive that the shadow people are talking to them and furthering the sense of panic.

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 <onlyinclude>
 [[File:Shadow-people zpsaa95af9a.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'''Untitled''' by '''[[Anonymous]]''' - An accurate representation of the experience of shadow people.]]
-'''Shadow people''' are a common hallucination for humans to have. They usually appear as a result of [[sleep deprivation]], [[psychoactive substances]]s, or [[Lucid_Dreaming#Internally_Sourced_Sensory_Input|hypnagogic states]]. During this experience, the subject perceives a patch of shadow in their peripheral vision or focused visual field to be a living, autonomous figure. This figure can be either animal-like or humanoid in appearance. This hallucination is often accompanied with a feeling of intense [[paranoia]] and [[anxiety]].
+'''Shadow people''' are a very common visual hallucination for humans to have. They usually appear as a result of [[sleep deprivation]], [[psychoactive substances]]s, or [[Lucid_Dreaming#Internally_Sourced_Sensory_Input|hypnagogic states]] and can be considered a sub-type of [[autonomous entities]]. During this experience, the subject perceives a patch of shadow in their peripheral vision or focused visual field to be a living, autonomous figure. This figure can be either animal-like or humanoid in appearance. This hallucinatory state is often accompanied with a feeling of intense [[paranoia]] and [[anxiety]].
-</onlyinclude>
-==Visual component==
-The visual [[external hallucinations]] usually appear as initial fleeting images out of the corner of the eyes, in the peripheral vision. As time progresses, however, the hallucinations may appear in full view and one will be able to look directly at them, even being able to look away and look back at the entity without a change in the hallucination. This progression is the same whether you are experiencing shadow people from sleep deprivation or from stimulant psychosis.
-The bodies of the shadow people are usually a type of blackness that has a sense of depth with few facial or bodily features.  The blackness of the body seems almost opaque - it's like looking into a black hole in anthropomorphic form.  They sometimes appear to have faces and are able to move or change shape.
+The visual [[external hallucinations]] usually appear as initial fleeting images out of the corner of the eyes, in the peripheral vision. As time progresses, however, the hallucinations may appear in full view and one will be able to look directly at them, even being able to look away and look back at the entity without a change in the hallucination. This progression is typically the same whether you are experiencing shadow people from sleep deprivation or from stimulant psychosis.
-Multiple shadow people can occupy the field of vision at once, acting autonomously from one another. This can occur in the peripheral vision or in the focused field of vision.
+The bodies of the shadow people are usually perceived as a type of blackness that has a sense of depth with few facial or bodily features.  The blackness of the body often seems almost opaque as if one is looking into a "black hole" in anthropomorphic form.  They sometimes appear to have faces and are able to move or change shape. It is also possible for multiple shadow people to occupy one's field of vision simultaneously while acting autonomously from one another.
-==Auditory component==
+Although it is not an intrinsic part of this hallucinatory component, shadow people can potentially be accompanied by other sensory components aside from one's visual perception of them. This is typically infrequent and usually only occurs during very intense states of sleep deprivation, [[delirium]] or [[psychosis]]. For example, shadow people can potentially have an accompanying "voice", despite the common lack of a mouth structure. This auditory communication follows an identical [[Autonomous_entities#Communication_styles|leveling system]] of progressively more detailed and coherent spoken word in the same manner as a generic [[Autonomous_entities|autonomous entity]].
-Occasionally, the visual representation of a shadow person can have an accompanying "voice", despite the common lack of a mouth structure.
+</onlyinclude>
-When communicated with through spoken word, the level of coherency in which these entities can communicate with is highly variable but can be broken down into four distinct levels. These are listed below as:
-# '''Silence''' - This level can be defined as a complete unresponsiveness from the side of the entity and an incapability of speech despite their obvious presence within the hallucination.
-#'''Partially defined incoherent speech''' - This level can be defined as audible linguistic conversational responses and noises which sound like words but do not contain any real content or meaning beyond a vague sense of emotional intent.
-#'''Fully defined incoherent speech''' - This level can be defined as audible linguistic conversational responses and noises which contain fully defined and understandable words but often lack grammatical structure or an overall sense of general coherency.
-#'''Partially defined coherent speech''' - This level can be defined as audible linguistic conversational responses and noises which contain fully defined and understandable words with a partially defined grammatical structure and general coherency which conveys its point on a level which may not always be fully understandable but is still capable of conveying a general point.
-#'''Fully defined coherent speech''' - This level can be defined as audible linguistic conversational responses which contain understandable words and a fully defined grammatical sentence structures or an overall sense of general coherency which conveys its point on a level that is on par with that of own intellect.
 ==Tactile component==
 Rarely, shadow people can cause [[tactile hallucinations]] that are indistinguishable from a real human touch. These physical sensations can be moderate in temperature, but they can also be cold to the touch. Pulling of clothing, hair, or the skin has been reported by some individuals.
@@ Line 30: / Line 18: @@
 ==Accompanying mental states==
 These hallucinations are often perceived as being malicious due to intense [[Paranoia|paranoia]] and [[Anxiety|anxiety]] that often occur simultaneously. [[Tactile hallucinations]], feelings of convincing physical sensations that are not actually occurring within reality, may occur. [[Auditory hallucinations]] may also manifest themselves, causing one to perceive that the shadow people are talking to them and furthering the sense of panic.