In order to ground my approach to the study of paranormal phenomena, I first explain my operational approach to physics, and to the “historical” sciences of cosmic, biological, human, social and political evolution. I then indicate why I believe that “paranormal phenomena” might — but need not — fit into this framework. I endorse the need for a new theoretical framework for the investigation of...

Introduction: Paranormal beliefs are defined as believing in extrasensory perception, precognition, witchcraft, and telekinesis, magical thinking, psychokinesis, superstitions. Previous studies corroborate that executive brain functions underpin paranormal beliefs. To test causal hypotheses, neurophysiological studies of brain activity are required. Method: A sample of 20 students (10 females,...

Recent articles by Erich Goode (2000) and Glenn Sparks (2001) discussed the relationship between religious and paranormal beliefs. Goode proposes that they share a common foundation of belief in phenomena that are outside conventional science. Sparks is less certain of a relationship between traditional religion and paranormal beliefs. However, both writers agree that there are multiple dimensi...

Background: Paranormal experiences that fit into a prior framework of belief are seen as more pleasant, while individuals without such a framework find them intrusive and disturbing. Methods: Undergraduate students (no paranormal experiences group, N= 1574) and people who attended workshops on paranormal/spiritual topics (paranormal experiences group, N= 416) completed two questionnaires, the O...

This study assessed the extent to which within-individual variation in schizotypy and paranormal belief influenced performance on probabilistic reasoning tasks. A convenience sample of 725 non-clinical adults completed measures assessing schizotypy (Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences; O-Life brief), belief in the paranormal (Revised Paranormal Belief Scale; RPBS) and probabi...

This study examines the psychological correlates of paranormal beliefs among teachers and teachers in training. Teachers are a population of special interest because they may transmit paranormal beliefs to their students. Teacher paranormal beliefs were found to be correlated with cognitive perceptual and disorganized schizotypal thinking and intuitive thinking styles. The overall pattern of th...

The present paper examined relationships between schizotypy (measured by the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experience; O-LIFE scale brief), belief in the paranormal (assessed via the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale; RPBS) and proneness to statistical bias (i.e., perception of randomness and susceptibility to conjunction fallacy). Participants were 254 volunteers recruited via conve...