Many of the most well known tales will try to balance out the normal with the paranormal. An urban legend may include elements of the supernatural or paranormal. Elements of shock value can be found in almost every form of urban legend and are partially what makes these tales so impactful.
Urban legends will often try to invoke a feeling of disgust in the reader which tends to make these stories more memorable and potent. Some urban legends are morality tales that depict someone acting in a disagreeable manner, only to wind up in trouble, hurt, or dead. The compelling appeal of a typical urban legend is its elements of mystery, horror, fear, or humor. Many urban legends are framed as complete stories with plot and characters. Brunvand used his collection of legends, The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends & Their Meanings (1981) to make two points: first, that legends and folklore do not occur exclusively in so-called primitive or traditional societies, and second, that one could learn much about urban and modern culture by studying such tales. Jan Harold Brunvand, professor of English at the University of Utah, introduced the term to the general public in a series of popular books published beginning in 1981. The term 'urban legend', as used by folklorists, has appeared in print since at least 1968, when it was used by Richard Dorson.
