Paranormal Experience, Belief in the Paranormal and Anomalous Beliefs

Dagnall, N ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0657-7604, Drinkwater, K ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4015-0578, Parker, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4066-7339 and Clough, PJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7354-5445 (2016) Paranormal Experience, Belief in the Paranormal and Anomalous Beliefs. Paranthropology: journal of anthropological approaches to the paranormal, 7 (1). pp. 4-15. ISSN 2044-9216

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Abstract

Relatively few studies have investigated the nature and incidence of paranormal experience. Extending the work of Castro et al. (2014), this study investigated the prevalence of subjective paranormal experiences (SPEs) and examined relationships between SPEs and anomalous beliefs (paranormal, urban legends and conspiracism). The sample comprised 1215 adults, aged 16-70 years drawn predominantly from a UK University. Data analysis revealed important findings. Forty-two percent of respondents reported an SPE and incidence of multiple experiences was common within experiencers. Despite minor gender differences, across experience types, SPE incidence was largely unaffected by gender. Finally, SPEs correlated positively with belief in the paranormal and anomalous beliefs.