A Majority Already Believes in the Paranormal: Roots, Dynamics, and Ramifications of a Growing Phenomenon

This paper examines the predominant perspectives in the literature on the etiology and sustenance of paranormal belief. A sample of 250 participants was used to analyze a series of variables representing the primary theoretical frameworks and develop an integrative model of paranormal belief. The 62% of the subjects held paranormal beliefs. Through linear regression analysis, it was found that subjective paranormal experiences were the best predictor of paranormal belief, with a standardized coefficient of .26 (p<.001), followed by openness to experience (.18, p=.002), unusual experiences (.18, p=.002), religiosity (.14, p=.016), and probabilistic reasoning (-.13, p=.021). These results suggest that paranormal belief is a multicausal phenomenon influenced by diverse factors. Finally, a model is proposed to explain the development and sustenance of paranormal beliefs, highlighting the importance of considering the context and practical implications of holding such beliefs.