{"id":15422,"date":"2025-04-15T23:54:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/?p=15422"},"modified":"2025-04-15T23:54:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T13:54:53","slug":"how-paranormal-beliefs-help-people-cope-in-uncertain-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/15\/how-paranormal-beliefs-help-people-cope-in-uncertain-times\/","title":{"rendered":"How paranormal beliefs help people cope in uncertain times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paranormal beliefs create a sense of control, predictability and comfort in uncertain times, according to\u00a0academic studies<\/a>. That doesn\u2019t explain why some people find them more appealing than others, though\u00a0recent studies<\/a>\u00a0are starting to offer explanations about why some people feel so drawn to the paranormal.<\/p>\n

Paranormal beliefs are convictions in notions beyond what mainstream science can explain, like ghosts or psychic abilities.\u00a0Surveys show<\/a>\u00a0that a\u00a0large number<\/a>\u00a0of people\u00a0in the United States<\/a> and the United Kingdom \u2013 between about one-third<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a050 per cent<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 hold\u00a0these beliefs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our\u00a0recent study<\/a>\u00a0found that people who feel powerless or uncertain are more likely to believe in the supernatural. This is probably because of the way our brains process uncertainty. When faced with events\u00a0we cannot control<\/a>, our minds\u00a0look for patterns<\/a>\u00a0and explanations.<\/p>\n

Paranormal beliefs\u00a0create structured stories<\/a>\u00a0that make random events seem intentional. For example, astrology connects planetary movements to personal experiences, giving believers a way to understand their lives. People put their\u00a0faith in conspiracy theories<\/a>\u00a0for similar reasons.<\/p>\n

One major reason people turn to paranormal beliefs is to deal with anxiety about life. Realising that life is unpredictable and has an end can be unsettling. Supernatural beliefs provide comfort by suggesting that a higher power controls human destiny.<\/p>\n

This perception<\/a>\u00a0gives life a\u00a0sense of purpose and meaning<\/a>. Stories about ghosts and communication with the dead help people\u00a0feel connected to<\/a>\u00a0lost loved ones. In this way, supernatural thinking helps people cope with fears about the unknown.<\/p>\n

Believing in the paranormal can provide comfort for some, but it can be unhelpful in some situations. For instance, a deep belief in supernatural forces might cause someone to blame their problems on supernatural forces instead of looking for practical ways to address them. Indeed,\u00a0our recent research<\/a>\u00a0identified that belief in external supernatural forces that exert control, such as gods or fate, is associated with distress. This type of belief reflects a lack of personal control.<\/p>\n

Conversely, our\u00a0recent study<\/a>\u00a0showed that belief in paranormal phenomena centred on personal spirituality, such as astrology or manifesting, is not associated with stress. This seems to be because these kinds of belief emphasise personal control and meaning.<\/p>\n

Paranormal beliefs are also influenced\u00a0by mental shortcuts<\/a>\u00a0that shape perception of the world. Pattern recognition is a good example, where people see connections in random events. This explains why people see faces in clouds or someone thinks a series of bad events means they are cursed.<\/p>\n

Realising that life is unpredictable and has an end can be unsettling. Supernatural beliefs provide comfort by suggesting that a higher power controls human destiny.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another common bias is when people believe they can influence things that are beyond their control. Often referred to as the illusion of control,\u00a0a 2024 study<\/a>\u00a0showed that this bias also applies to health, like believing in false medical treatments or cures. The researchers found that illusory health beliefs correlated positively with a belief in pseudoscience and negatively with scepticism.<\/p>\n

Culture and society can strengthen paranormal beliefs. The way the media depicts supernatural events affects\u00a0how people see them<\/a>. Horror films and TV shows frequently portray supernatural beings\u00a0interacting with the real world<\/a>. Social media further amplifies these ideas, with people sharing\u00a0personal stories<\/a>,\u00a0videos<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0experiences online<\/a>. These\u00a0shared posts<\/a>\u00a0can\u00a0reinforce beliefs<\/a>\u00a0in the paranormal.<\/p>\n

When people are surrounded by others who believe in the supernatural, they are more likely to see these ideas as true. Social norms shape these beliefs by setting expectations about what is considered acceptable or real within a culture. If a society widely accepts paranormal ideas,\u00a0people are more likely<\/a>\u00a0to adopt and\u00a0reinforce them<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Understanding the role of paranormal beliefs can help researchers create a balanced view of the people who subscribe to them. Instead of dismissing such beliefs, it is important to recognise their emotional and personal significance. Particularly, how beliefs shape people\u2019s perspectives and coping mechanisms. While they may not align with logic or evidence, the comfort they afford is deeply meaningful to those who hold them. A 2024 study found that paranormal beliefs were not necessarily associated with negative wellbeing and were connected to a sense of\u00a0meaning in life<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Research has shown<\/a>\u00a0that teaching critical thinking and scientific literacy can help people tell the difference between helpful spiritual practices and harmful misunderstandings. Encouraging scepticism and rational thinking allows people to engage with the world in a way that balances hope with reason.<\/p>\n

Paranormal beliefs persist because they meet deep psychological needs. Understanding why people believe in the supernatural can lead to more compassionate discussions and help them find better ways to handle uncertainty. Whether or not someone believes in ghosts, the need\u00a0for stability and comfort<\/a>\u00a0is something all humans share.<\/p>\n

This article was originally published on <\/strong><\/em>The Conversation<\/strong><\/a>. It was co-authored by: Andrew Denovan, Senior lecturer in Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University; and <\/strong><\/em>Ken Drinkwater, Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Cognitive and Parapsychology, Manchester Metropolitan University.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Photo by petr sidorov<\/a> on Unsplash.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Paranormal beliefs create a sense of control, predictability and comfort in uncertain times, according to\u00a0academic studies. That doesn\u2019t explain why<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":804,"featured_media":15423,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[321,546,651,439,440],"coauthors":[768],"class_list":["post-15422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-philosophy","tag-conspiracy-theories","tag-critical-thinking","tag-scepticism","tag-supernatural","tag-superstition"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/804"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15422"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15427,"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15422\/revisions\/15427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15422"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rationalemagazine.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=15422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}