"You're... NOT ME!"

"I am a Shadow... The true self..."

Shadows in [[Persona]] are the [[dark_persona|dark sides of individuals]] given sentience and individuality. Though they appear in the whole series, in Persona 4 they are by default unable to truly break free from their originator. The Shadows always try to force the person to deny them, as this gives the Shadow immense power and the chance to break free if not immediately defeated. [spoiler]Breaking free usually involves killing the originator.[/spoiler]

If the person who spawns the Shadow accepts it truthfully, the Shadow becomes that person's Persona, a loyal and similarly powerful supernatural being with some form of exceptional power, whether it is in combat, communication, or some other application.