There are different appearances that different people think that the Bogeyman has. Some children thought that a real life person, such as serial killer Albert Fish, was the Bogeyman.

Sometimes parents will, as a way of controlling their children, encourage belief in a bogeyman that only preys on children who misbehave. Such bogeymen may be said to target a specific transgression - for instance, a bogeyman that persecutes children who suck their thumbs - or just general misbehaviour.

The term "bogeyman" is also used metaphorically to mean a person or thing of which someone else has an irrational fear.

External links