After doing a bit of research on the subject, I found that all of the "evidence" of the existance of the Jersey Devil is sketchy at best. Belief in this creature stems from various stories of a devil child being born to a woman somewhere in New Jersey. The location of the supposed birth varies from story to story. In many versions of the story, a woman (often named Mrs. Leeds) wished that her next child would be a devil out of frustration and simply got her wish. Other versions claim that Mrs. Leeds was a witch, and that the child's father was a demon, or the Devil himself.
Supposed sightings of the Jersey Devil are just as unbelievable. Over the last two to three hundred years, people have attributed the Jersey Devil to animal mutilations, property damage, and hoof prints. There has never been any real, substantial evidence suggesting the existance of this creature. If that is the case, then the question still stands: Why do people believe?
The Jersey Devil falls into a category of "crytpids" (from the Greek "krypto," which means "hide"). A cryptid is a creature that is thought by some to exist, but whose existance is deemed highly unlikely. Other popular cryptids include the Yeti, Unicorns, and the Loch Ness Monster. Go ahead and read that last sentence again. The Jersey Devil falls into the same category as Unicorns.
Some psychologists have suggested that the belief in demonic creatures has to do with our desire to externalize our problems. Beliefs in things like the Jersey Devil allow us to create an external force that is the embodiment of the things they represent. In this case, something like the Jersey Devil would represent fear, cruelty, and evil. Additionally, people who tend to look for supernatural explanations to things are obviously drawn to these types of beliefs. Then, of course, there are gullible people, who will believe the "evidence" provided for the Jersey Devil's existance. Whatever the reason, since the existence of the Jersey Devil can't necessarily be "disproven", people will continue to believe the tales. As strange as it seems, if human history is any indication, this type of myth and folklore will always be a part of our society.
Sources:The Psychology Of Belief in DemonsThe Jersey DevilThe Devil, You Say
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