The shoulder devil is the personification of a character's conscience, typically the bad and immoral side. The devil serves as the voice of bad intent, immorality and wrong choice in situations where a character faces moral integrity.

The shoulder devil generally resembles its host, and is depicted as the western representation of the devil: usually red-skinned (but can have the same skin color as its host), with devil horns, bat wings and a spade tail, and very often holding a pitchfork and making an evil grin.

It embodies the desobedience, impurity and conscience of its host, and tries to fend off its alter ego: The shoulder angel, with whom they are often depicted arguing and fighting about their host, their actions and consequences.

See also

• shoulder angel – The exact opposite counterpart