PHOTO GALLERY: The Hat Man: Legends of True Evil

Among the most beguiling of these is the phenomenon of shadow people, and, in particular, the cryptic figure referred to as the "Hatman." The Eerie Presence Shadow people, ephemeral figures glimpsed primarily in one's peripheral vision, are spectral forms reported by numerous individuals worldwide.

Distinguished by a wide-brimmed hat, this silhouette is imbued with an aura of dread and has been reported across cultures and eras, suggesting a universal experience. Archetypes & The Collective Unconscious Could the Hatman be a manifestation of the collective human psyche? Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung postulated the existence of universal symbols or "archetypes," arising from the collective unconscious.