Spirit possession is a term for the belief that
animas,
demons,
extraterrestrials,
gods, or
spirits can take control of a
human body. The concept of spirit possession exists in many religions, including
Christianity,
Buddhism,
Haitian Vodou,
Wicca, Hinduism, Islam and
Southeast Asian and
African traditions. Depending on the cultural context in which it is found, possession may be considered voluntary or involuntary and may be considered to have beneficial or detrimental effects to host. Within possession cults, the belief that one is possessed by spirits is more common among women than men.