Why People Often See a Shadowy Man With a Wide Brimmed Hat During Sleep Paralysis Episodes

Dr. Emily Zarka of the PBS series Monstrum looks at the phenomenon of seeing a shadowy man wearing a wide brim hat appearing during terrifying episodes of sleep paralysis. This so called “Hat Man” is so prevalent that restless sleepers have seen this or other frightening images just before they fall asleep. Zarka also examines the physiology behind these frightening episodes

Countless people claim to have seen the Hat Man—a shadowy figure in a wide-brimmed hat—while experiencing sleep paralysis, bringing on an overwhelming sense of dread. Why do so many people, throughout time and across different cultures, report the same eerie encounter? Is it a neurological glitch or something more?

She also notes that some may people feel like there is a presence sitting on their chest or holding them down and/or restricting breathing. This comes from the body’s own defenses to keep us from acting out our dreams.

In typical deep REM sleep, the muscles of  the body relax into temporary paralysis. This is a good thing. It’s our bodies’ attempt  to ensure we don’t physically act out our dreams.But during sleep paralysis, the person  is conscious enough to be aware that  they can’t move.

And this phenomenon is known universally.

People with sleep paralysis report  difficulty breathing and pressure on their chest. The sensations of fear  and anxiety are almost universal. …
Similar stories of a presence sitting on  someone’s chest while sleeping can be found  in accounts of “ghost oppression” in China,  the “sebeteledi” of Botswana, and the “bakhtak jinn” of Iran. And these are just a few of  the numerous examples from around the world. The entities inspire the word we associate with  sleep and fear—the nightmare.