Spectrophilia / Phasmophilia

Spectrophilia is a term used in psychology and sexology to describe sexual attraction to ghosts or spirits, or the phenomenon of sexual encounters between humans and supernatural entities. Spectrophilia encompasses both fantasies and reported experiences involving sexual contact with apparitional beings. Many people have reported sexual encounters with something supernatural. These encounters are reported as either pleasurable and consensual, or more akin to assault. Some scientists connect these experiences to sleep paralysis or hypnagogic hallucinations, where people perceive sensations or presences while half-awake. However, most spectrophophiles are into the fantasy aspect of this fetish, and merely use imagination to enhance sex or masturbation. ### Origins of the Term The term derives from the Latin "spectrum," which means "ghost" or "apparition," and the Greek "philia," which means "love" or "affection". Beliefs in sexual unions between humans and non-human or supernatural beings have existed for centuries across cultures. In medieval Christian demonology, such encounters were described as involving incubi (male demons) and succubi (female demons), entities believed to seduce or assault humans during sleep. These myths served as moral and theological explanations for phenomena such as nocturnal emissions, erotic dreams, or sleep paralysis. In folklore, similar themes appear in stories of spirits, gods, or mythical creatures engaging sexually with humans. These narratives often reflect societal attitudes toward sexuality, the body, and the supernatural. The modern term spectrophilia emerged in the 20th century within sexological and parapsychological literature, where it was used to describe reported erotic or physical experiences with supernatural entities.