Why Do We See Ghosts in the Dark?

Sometimes, when it's dark, our brains make up things to help us feel safe. Imagine you're in a room and you see something that looks like a person, but it’s just your shadow or a piece of furniture! That’s why people sometimes think they’ve seen ghosts in the dark.

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Examples

You're in your bedroom at night and see a shadowy figure at the foot of your bed, but it's just your cat.
Your friend says they saw a ghost in the hallway, but it was just their backpack moving.
In the dark, you think you see someone walking behind you, it’s actually just the wind blowing curtains.

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Categories: Psychology · perception,illusions,fear