Morris suggested that individuals who believe that they have experienced a psychic event think this because there appears to be a strange connection between their thoughts and events in the real world. This ability should not be viewed negatively, it is likely that similar characteristics underlie creativity. In fact, researchers have found a link between creativity and paranormal beliefs. Believers are more creative than non believers and may have an advantage over non believers, who may fail to detect meaningful connections.
Research carried out in anomalistic psychology tends to use participants that are university students. Therefore, the samples and the outcomes of the studies are not representative of the wider population.
Evaluate personality factors underlying anomalous experience.
A number of personality factors have been shown to correlate with paranormal belief.
Williams found a link between neuroticism and paranormal beliefs. Research in this area may suggest that belief in the paranormal is in some sense pathological. However, links have not been found with other mental disorders such as depression. Auton et al suggest it is mistaken to portray paranormal beliefs as pathological. We must be careful not to label or regard this negatively, in fact some research has found links between positive mental states and paranormal belief.
Allen and Lester found a link between external locus of control and paranormal belief. Researchers have noted that the link is dependent on the type of paranormal belief. For example, spiritualism correlates positively with an external locus of control, whereas ESP correlates negatively with an external locus of control. There is also evidence to support the opposite relationship. Davies and Kirkby found a positive correlation between an internal locus of control and paranormal belief.
Honorton et al. carried out a meta-analysis of 60 published studies relating to extra-version and ESP performance and found an overall positive correlation. Whilst this provides empirical support for the relationship between extra-version and ESP performance, there are questions about the degree to which the results can be generalised to the wider population. The experimental situation is artificial and the mundane realism is low. Extroversion and introversion might not be the only variable that has a casual effect. It is possible that individuals who take part in such experiments are those who readily adapt to new surroundings and are comfortable and relaxed in a social situation. When ESP is performed outside the laboratory in a more naturalistic context, the effects of personality traits are not seen.
Evaluate biological factors underlying anomalous experience.
The research into biological influence behind good ability of psi has investigated:
Temporal lobe abnormalities- Persinger and Koren reported that psi ability and temporal lobe abnormalities might be linked. The problem with these assertions is that there is only limited experimental data apart from their own work to back them up.
EEG readings of participants during ESP tasks- Irwin suggested that the level of alpha, and in particular, beta waves could be in some way linked to ability. Don and Warren looked at the function of delta waves and theta waves, suggesting that low cortical arousal might be a factor in an individual's success in psi tasks.
Some researchers have focused on the function of the right hemisphere. However, other researchers such as Broughton, have focused their attentions more on the function of the left hemisphere. In the 1980s the breadth of investigative scope grew to include neuro-physiological understanding. Gordon introduced the cognitive laterality battery – a
task that allows exact measurements of specific cognitive functions known to be associated with specific hemispheres.
While the focuses within biological and physiological influences may vary, one thing seems sure, that there is scope to argue that all influences play a role in the anomalistic ability. However, the singular focus that biology places on the factors that seem to be involved lays it open to critical charges of determinism and reductionism. Investigations in this area seem to ignore larger societal influences that could equally shape anomalistic experience.
