by Speedlight July 3, 2003
A person who lends themselves well to expression as a shadow archetype, as defined by C.G. Jung.
As expressions of the psychic shadow of society, the shadow personality has the internal disposition required for sociopathic behavior, but may not engage in it relative to the standards of a given society. (for example, blaming social maladies on a nations' enemy may be condoned by that society, despite its fundamentally antisocial nature). A person who depreciates the importance of providing socially valuable content in their own mind, they instead exhalt their id and its primal drives. This is the defining trait of a shadow personality: their genetic program is given corresponding weight relative to its relevance to the given social situation. For example, if the situation calls for deep, systemic hatred, they will indulge in this on behalf of what they perceive of as the greater good of social order. (the superego, not to be confused with the social ego one relies on for social interacton). They may argue for the imposition of social restraints that are amenicable to their own preferred mentality, especially if they see themselves as threatened by another gene program.
Famous shadow archetypes include Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot, Josef Mengele, Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Goering, practicing Satanists and others who indulge themselves in markedly socially deviant practices and the promotion of the same. (from the standpoint of a confirmable overwhelming social supermajority). These practices stem from thought patterns which exhalt the various vices of humanity, and may be disturbing to the majority. Shadows may acheive positions of power and prestige, however their nature is like to corrupt the integrity of the environment around them with the pursuit of self-interest over the greater good of society. The very presence of a shadow can twist the thinking of the unwary and sow the seeds of tragedy for all involved. Shadows radiate a vibe of instability and/or unpredictability, extreme nervousness which is felt by those around them.
In recent times Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earned the scorn of leaders around the world by making threatening statements toward Israel. Additionally, Ahmadinejad has presided over the implementation of a nuclear fuel program in Iran, a move which unsettles the predominantly Judeo-Christian West with the possibility that Iran could develop nuclear weapons capability. It is conceivable that Ahmadinejad, a shadow, was chosen to lead as a counter to the influence of the United States which had invaded Iran's neighbor, Iraq. Ahmadinejad is a skilled diplomatic intimidator whose ruthless pursuit of his own social program has led to a reinforcement of the superego platform of the Islamic revolution, thus diminishing dissent in Iran and repressing insurgency. Shadows are often sought by governments desperate to repress competing ethnic groups into the boundaries of a single state, as was exemplified by the American elevation of Saddam Hussein's government to power in the 1960s.
The world's most notorious serial killers and charismatic psychopaths are shadows, although not all shadows are psychopaths.
Origin: C.G. Jung referred to the manifestation of personalities who brought out the beast in men as "personifications of the shadow archetype", naming Hitler in particular as one such person. In The Lord of the Rings, the Dark Lord Sauron is referred to as "the Shadow", particularly with regard to his influence.
As expressions of the psychic shadow of society, the shadow personality has the internal disposition required for sociopathic behavior, but may not engage in it relative to the standards of a given society. (for example, blaming social maladies on a nations' enemy may be condoned by that society, despite its fundamentally antisocial nature). A person who depreciates the importance of providing socially valuable content in their own mind, they instead exhalt their id and its primal drives. This is the defining trait of a shadow personality: their genetic program is given corresponding weight relative to its relevance to the given social situation. For example, if the situation calls for deep, systemic hatred, they will indulge in this on behalf of what they perceive of as the greater good of social order. (the superego, not to be confused with the social ego one relies on for social interacton). They may argue for the imposition of social restraints that are amenicable to their own preferred mentality, especially if they see themselves as threatened by another gene program.
Famous shadow archetypes include Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot, Josef Mengele, Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Goering, practicing Satanists and others who indulge themselves in markedly socially deviant practices and the promotion of the same. (from the standpoint of a confirmable overwhelming social supermajority). These practices stem from thought patterns which exhalt the various vices of humanity, and may be disturbing to the majority. Shadows may acheive positions of power and prestige, however their nature is like to corrupt the integrity of the environment around them with the pursuit of self-interest over the greater good of society. The very presence of a shadow can twist the thinking of the unwary and sow the seeds of tragedy for all involved. Shadows radiate a vibe of instability and/or unpredictability, extreme nervousness which is felt by those around them.
In recent times Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earned the scorn of leaders around the world by making threatening statements toward Israel. Additionally, Ahmadinejad has presided over the implementation of a nuclear fuel program in Iran, a move which unsettles the predominantly Judeo-Christian West with the possibility that Iran could develop nuclear weapons capability. It is conceivable that Ahmadinejad, a shadow, was chosen to lead as a counter to the influence of the United States which had invaded Iran's neighbor, Iraq. Ahmadinejad is a skilled diplomatic intimidator whose ruthless pursuit of his own social program has led to a reinforcement of the superego platform of the Islamic revolution, thus diminishing dissent in Iran and repressing insurgency. Shadows are often sought by governments desperate to repress competing ethnic groups into the boundaries of a single state, as was exemplified by the American elevation of Saddam Hussein's government to power in the 1960s.
The world's most notorious serial killers and charismatic psychopaths are shadows, although not all shadows are psychopaths.
Origin: C.G. Jung referred to the manifestation of personalities who brought out the beast in men as "personifications of the shadow archetype", naming Hitler in particular as one such person. In The Lord of the Rings, the Dark Lord Sauron is referred to as "the Shadow", particularly with regard to his influence.
Typical usage:
"He's a shadow..."
"You shouldn't talk that way, man. That's shadow." - especially in reference to racial bigotry, irrational ethinic bias, etc.
"I don't want you hangin' around shadows." - specifically, in reference to the "wrong crowd", situations which are markedly deviant from social norms, and plausibly influenced by shadow archetypes.
"He's a shadow..."
"You shouldn't talk that way, man. That's shadow." - especially in reference to racial bigotry, irrational ethinic bias, etc.
"I don't want you hangin' around shadows." - specifically, in reference to the "wrong crowd", situations which are markedly deviant from social norms, and plausibly influenced by shadow archetypes.
by Anthony Caudill March 31, 2008
A really outgoing and fun person to be around. Always makes you laugh and isn't afraid to to say hi to new people. Shadow is also very skinny and twig looking
by Lalababyboo August 28, 2017
by Mr.AmazingAwesomeMan September 6, 2012
Brief history of The Shadow:
The Shadow is a fictional crime fighter from the 1930s pulp magazines.In print,The Shadow's real name is Kent Allard; in film, Lamont Cranston.Kent Allard was a renowned World War 1 aviator.
Powers and Abilities of The Shadow:
1.Genius-level intellect.
2.Master of telepathy.
3.Master of hypnotism(He can cloud men's minds).
4.Telekinesis and psychic powers.
5.Invisibility(however, The Shadow of the pulps did not have the power of outright invisibility;he could blend into shadows but he did not have the ability to actually become one).
6.Master martial artist.
7.Peak physical strength,reflexes,agility and mental conditioning.
8.Astonishing physical prowess.
9.Ambidexterous.
10.Can manipulate his body in unusual ways(for example he can slip his body through the bars of a prison cell like a contortionist or can actually distort and alter his very facial features at will by manipulating his facial muscles).
11.He can survive for hours without air.
12.Master detective.
13.Master of stealth.
14.Master of disguise.
15.Master marksman.
16.Expert in many different languages.
17.Expert aircraft pilot.
18.Master ventriloquist(he can project or "throw" his voice).
19.Master of subversion, infiltration, and information gathering techniques.
20.Access to various automobiles and aircraft.
21.Vast network of agents.
The Shadow is a fictional crime fighter from the 1930s pulp magazines.In print,The Shadow's real name is Kent Allard; in film, Lamont Cranston.Kent Allard was a renowned World War 1 aviator.
Powers and Abilities of The Shadow:
1.Genius-level intellect.
2.Master of telepathy.
3.Master of hypnotism(He can cloud men's minds).
4.Telekinesis and psychic powers.
5.Invisibility(however, The Shadow of the pulps did not have the power of outright invisibility;he could blend into shadows but he did not have the ability to actually become one).
6.Master martial artist.
7.Peak physical strength,reflexes,agility and mental conditioning.
8.Astonishing physical prowess.
9.Ambidexterous.
10.Can manipulate his body in unusual ways(for example he can slip his body through the bars of a prison cell like a contortionist or can actually distort and alter his very facial features at will by manipulating his facial muscles).
11.He can survive for hours without air.
12.Master detective.
13.Master of stealth.
14.Master of disguise.
15.Master marksman.
16.Expert in many different languages.
17.Expert aircraft pilot.
18.Master ventriloquist(he can project or "throw" his voice).
19.Master of subversion, infiltration, and information gathering techniques.
20.Access to various automobiles and aircraft.
21.Vast network of agents.
"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?
The Shadow knows!"
"The weed of crime bears bitter fruit.Crime does not pay....
The Shadow knows!"
The Shadow knows!"
"The weed of crime bears bitter fruit.Crime does not pay....
The Shadow knows!"
by The Centurion January 26, 2012
Shadow: The Ultimate God of the universe. Battling every fighter who stands in his way. Rumour has it that he has a massive following on YouTube!
by Shadow, The black Pokemon November 25, 2018
Most fucking badass, sexy, hottest hedgehog to ever be introducted in pixels. Shadow, also known as the Ultimate Lifeform, was created by a scientist over 50 years ago. An Artificially-Processed Transgenic African Pygmy Hedgehog with Black Arms DNA just screams hotness. The most popular Sonic the Hedgehog character. 1/10 Shadow fangirls can't write a complete sentence. I'm one of the few that can.
"My name is Shadow the Hedgehog. The world's Ulimate Lifeform."
Stupid Fangirl: 0MFG DO U C DIS PICTER!1!!1 SHADO IZ LYK S0 H0T HES MY HUSBND N WE HAV ELEVENTY BILIUN KIDZ11!1
Intelligent Fangirl: Oh my fucking god. Shadow is SO hot. I have his pictures all over my wall. I'm not OBSESSED or anything, but GOD. I LOVE THAT HEDGEHOG SO MUCH. If only he were real!
Stupid Fangirl: 0MFG DO U C DIS PICTER!1!!1 SHADO IZ LYK S0 H0T HES MY HUSBND N WE HAV ELEVENTY BILIUN KIDZ11!1
Intelligent Fangirl: Oh my fucking god. Shadow is SO hot. I have his pictures all over my wall. I'm not OBSESSED or anything, but GOD. I LOVE THAT HEDGEHOG SO MUCH. If only he were real!
by xHazelEyesx April 3, 2009