Functions of paranormal beliefs and cultural significance

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Discuss the functions of paranormal beliefs

The evolutionary approach suggests that belief in anomalous experience is an innate aspect of human behaviour. One suggestion has been that it enables individuals to stop worrying and questioning things, thus enabling them to be more productive in everyday life, increasing reproductive success.

The evolutionary approach ignores the possibility that paranormal abilities such as PK may actually exist and have evolved as they provide an advantage on individuals who possess them. Although, if this was the case we’d expect to see an increase over the course of human history, and for the experiences to be linked with positive benefits. However, McClenon found that students reported more negative than positive paranormal experiences. As a result of this we can assume the conclusion that it is the belief and not the actual ability that is adaptive.

Research has looked at childhood factors associated with the development of paranormal belief. Researchers such as Irwin and Lawrence have found evidence supporting a psychodynamic model of belief, because of having experienced traumatic or abusive childhood was associated with paranormal belief. French and Kerman, recruited participants with a history of childhood abuse and found a positive correlation between childhood trauma and paranormal belief. This suggests that, for some, paranormal belief serves the function of providing a sense of control. There is further support for this explanation, Henderson found that there was a rise in superstitious belief during the Gulf War, in the areas that were attacked by Iraqi missiles. This suggests that this theory can be applied to real-life situations.

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More recently, Watt, Watson and Wilson found that a lack of sense of control during childhood, may also be associated with the development of paranormal beliefs. They refer to paranormal belief as providing an illusory sense of control when all else is out of control. They are referring to the way in which it provides structure and meaning, often at times in life when there might be little else to provide such a function. For example, the belief in afterlife could ease the pain of bereavement.

There is an issue of gender bias in terms of individual belief ...

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