The 1980s literature on the Old Hag and sleep paralysis in Europe

Record summary

European folklore and psychological literature of the 1970s and 1980s documented nocturnal oppression, incubus-like figures, and sensed presences that can now be compared with sleep paralysis. British and northern European accounts are especially useful for examining how culturally available narratives shape interpretation of immobility, chest pressure, and threatening presence. This is a comparative tradition and scholarly topic, not a single verified incident. Researchers should identify the exact folklore collection, country, language, and clinical or anthropological study rather than generalize from the phrase “Old Hag.”