The Terror That Comes in the Night: An Experience-Centered Study of Supernatural Assault Traditions

by David J. Hufford

David Hufford's work exploring the experiential basis for belief in the supernatural, focusing here on the so-called Old Hag experience, a psychologically disturbing event in which a victim claims to have encountered some form of malign entity while dreaming (or awake). Sufferers report feeling suffocated, held down by some "force," paralyzed, and extremely afraid.

The experience is surprisingly common: the author estimates that approximately 15 percent of people undergo this event at some point in their lives. Various cultures have their own name for the phenomenon and have constructed their own mythology around it; the supernatural tenor of many Old Hag stories is unavoidable. Hufford, as a folklorist, is well-placed to investigate this puzzling occurrence.

Genres: Psychology, Folklore, Nonfiction, Horror, Anthropology, Occult, Science

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1982

Reviews

[Belladonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute MUST read for anyone who has ever had this experience. I need to express my thanks to the author for taking the considerable time and effort to explore this phenomena in the thorough and unbiased way he has done. I only wish I had discovered it 20 years ago, it would have saved me a lot of anxiety.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part scientific study, part folklore account, "The Terror That Comes In The Night" is an examination of what some people call the "Old Hag" syndrome and what other people refer to as sleep paralysis. In the classic Old Hag experience, the sleeper awakes to find they cannot move (though they can see and hear), feel as if there is a weight on their chest or force holding them down (that's the hag, sitting on your chest) and may sense a malevolent presence in the room. Some people even think they see a demon or old hag near by, and most people are absolutely terrified.

I'd recommend the book to anyone who has experienced this particular sleep disorder, who needs to know the scientific explanations behind the syndrome and who needs to know that they're not alone. (Besides, there frankly aren't a lot of books on the subject out there.) To those who haven't experienced this syndrome, it is still interesting reading...some of the first hand accounts from the study subjects are the stuff that horror movies are made from.

While the writing can get rather dry and technical at times, (ironically, I have actually FALLEN ASLEEP reading this book!) the subject matter itself is interesting and unique enough that it should win points on that alone.

[Abby Ang · Rating 3 out of 5]

yeah dont read this before bed

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing in depth look at SP (Sleep Paralysis) from various countries over an extended period of time. Mr. Hufford has spent a great deal of time on the research that has gone into this book. Fantastic read.

[Ryan McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For the true significance of the Nightmare to be properly appreciated ... would in my opinion entail consequences, both scientific and social, to which the term momentous might well be applied. What is at issue is nothing less than the very meaning of religion itself."

[Christopher Angulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read and excellent study in the subject of sleep paralysis. It was interesting to read the various forms of "evil" that appears/is sensed by the participant. Supwr fun read if you're interested in the subject (a lottle long-winded at times for its scholarly analysis).

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good source if your looking for information on sleep paralysis, especially in how it relates to folklore. Also interesting was his remarks on the study of supernatural phenomena or lack thereof. The science is a little outdated. The middle part of the book gets pretty dry and repetitive, but the rest of the book is pretty fascinating. I was, however, incredibly disappointed that no explanations for the phenomena were offered by Hufford in the least bit. Not even speculative. This was the whole reason I read the book. Very disappointing.

[Santi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hufford escribe un libro eminentemente académico para, en parte, defender el estudio de los fenómenos nocturnos como un campo serio. Lo consigue completamente, aunque a costa de aburrir en parte a la audiencia no académica. Con todo, un libro fundamental sobre estas fenomenologías.

[Carrol · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting. a much more common sleep problem than i have ever realized

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't imagine giving this anything less than five stars. I wish more writers would take this neutral approach to uncertain phenomena, rather than claiming to have it all figured out. The tone, structure, and information here are VERY academic (in a good way), and it kept me turning the pages. Although it is not meant to be, this was the creepiest book I've read this year, I think. It has also helped me formulate some of my own opinions on he subject without trying to persuade me toward any particular direction.

[Jukka Häkkinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyylikäs ja yksityiskohtainen tutkimus Newfoundlandissa esiintyvästä Old Hag-ilmiöstä. Eräs ensimmäisistä tutkimuksista, joka liitti unihalvauksen näihin outoihin kokemuksiin. Kirjan eräs vahvuus on runsas haastatteluaineisto, joka avaa kokemusten yksityskohtia.

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is an excellent book not only if you are interested in sleep paralysis. As the experience-centered approach can be applied in the investigation of any number of phenomena. Highly reccomend to anyone with an interest in folklore, tradition and belief.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting but ponderous to read.

[Ray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldnt really Get into this book,i have Sleep paralyis myself but found this book boring

[Joshua Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrifying!

[Quratulain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Dan Zarfati · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is a folklorist, nonetheless he makes the point that the subject matter is real and not imaginary, he doesn't run from the subject, brave guy

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same review for Once Upon a Virus - read it for school and it totally altered my brain.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy to read for those seeking a scholarly analysis of supernatural events and for those seeking something spooky.

[Justin Nipko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally, a naturalistic explanation for what happened to me throughout my teenage years. I spent over a decade terrified of the devil visiting me, binding my body and mouth while he mumbled indecipherable words. Turns out that it’s a strange, somewhat common phenomenon that has occurred to humans throughout history often called sleep paralysis. The author uses the colloquial term “old hag” but people have reported similar experiences with ghosts, aliens, demons, and orbs when they are in a state somewhere between asleep and awake. It makes complete sense as I was dealing with a sleeping disorder throughout those years.

The writing is dry and meticulous as the author describes his methodology for collecting data and analyzing patterns. But it’s also offset by plenty of spooky stories about ghost apparitions, old hag curses, and evil orbs visitations.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hufford interprets the universal human experience (old hag syndrome) through the lens of actual participant observation, aka, those whom it happens to. Dense passages and complex vocabulary make it a rather tough read but altogether engaging. He explains the terminology for the experience in modern psychological terms as being an obfuscated mix of the sleep and awake state of mind. By the end of the book, I found that, though parts of it read more slowly than others, it was a very rewarding read.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scientists who are willing to ask uncomfortable questions are rare. Hufford addresses what might really be going on in a wide-spread phenomenon. People wake up feeling as if they are being crushed, with a sense of a presence in their room. What is happening here? Is it more than a nightmare? This book dares to bring science to the average person, with unexpected results. See more at: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.

[Jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old Hag Syndrome - very disturbing and not all too fun :(
i am beginning to read this book and already its very informative! i love reading the experiences of others, knowing that im not the only one that has Night Terrors.
I think anyone who has this experience at night schould read this, or anyone who is just interested.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book in my early twenties, before I had access to the internet. It was a revelation that the always annoying, often unimaginably terrifying sleep condition that I had suffered since childhood was a well known phenomenon. It has been years since I read it, but if you suffer from sleep paralysis with hypnogogic hallucinations, this book will make you feel less alone and less afraid.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Hufford is one of my favorite scholars. This book is particularly informative regarding the significant difference between perception and interpretation.

I will be including more details regarding the importance of this book.

[Aubree Deimler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was too technical for me on a topic that I'm not sure can be explained in such a technical manner. I did enjoy reading the experiences of the people in the book, but really struggled to get through the rest of it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got night terrors, anyone? Old Hag syndrome? This is a must-read, then -- the only book on this topic that lets anecdotal evidence speak for itself.

[Neajean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I currently still reading this book. I am enjoying it in comparison to my own experiences with sleep paralysis. However, it is not really an easy fun read.

[Patricia Pham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mesmerizing, seminal work in sleep paralysis research.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newfoundland at night sounds awful.