It is an irrational fear of supernatural and imaginary beings like the coconut , the "bogeyman" , ghosts, goblins and monsters. Those affected usually acquire fear during childhood, and live in fear of finding these beings in the closet, behind the stairs, or under the bed. It is usually accompanied by fear of the dark ( scotophobia ).
Its name derives from the English term bogeyman , which gives its name to a mythological creature of Celtic origin present in numerous Scottish legends and tales that is equivalent to the Spanish "bogeyman", since it is even represented as an old man carrying a huge sack where he keeps children who have misbehaved forever. In Germany they call him buztemann , and in Italy he is known as Babau .
