Stands are defined as personifications of "life energy" whose abilities are given visual form. When first presented, the kana スタンド (Sutando/Stand) in a furigana format is written above the kanji 幽波紋 (Yūhamon),[2] meaning "Ghostly Ripple". A Stand can also represent the manifestation of an individual's innate "fighting spirit" and represents, to an extent, the individual's psyche. However, Stands may also derive through exploration of possibilities and expression of the mind, in which case, only a large amount of mental strength is required.

Stands often hover behind and above the user while usually being invisible to non-Stand users. Most Stand Users can access the "senses" of their Stands, seeing and hearing whatever their Stands can. To people without the power of the Stand, who normally cannot see them, the activities of the Stands are comparable to ghostly and poltergeist activity, and ESP. This behavior is evidently seen when Jotaro Kujo imprisons himself, takes a gun from one of the prison guards, aims it at his head, and pulls the trigger. His Stand's hand caught the bullet before it reached his head. For the normal people around him, it would appear that the bullet was suspended in midair, and as a result, the other prisoners in his cell and even the guards feared Jotaro.
Although Stands manifest themselves from the wielder's psyche, some abilities cannot be controlled and may even restrict the wielder (e.g, Super Fly). Those who gain Stands without these traits are subjected to negative and harmful influences due to the Stand turning on their user. These range from disease-like symptoms (as experienced by Holy Kujo) to the out-of-control Stand actively and knowledgeably trying to harm the unworthy user, even going as far as to attack them (as witnessed by Avdol). There also exist Harmful Stands that may or may not be a reflection of this.