Content area
Full Text
Levels of paranormal belief in a recent (2010) sample of university students were, overall, lower than levels reported by Tobacyk and Milford (1983) in a similar population. Relative levels of belief in various phenomena were similar for the two samples, though belief in some phenomena dropped more than others over the 27 year span. Implications of paranormal belief are discussed.
A perusal of current television listings, movie offerings, and internet content suggests that there is no shortage of interest in paranormal phenomena. Based on data from a variety of sources, Smith (2010) concludes that between 73 and 76 percent of people have at least one paranormal belief that is not based in traditional religious belief.
The questions behind the current research are these: Should we be concerned with how many people believe, and how strongly they believe, in various paranormal phenomena, and whether levels of belief are rising or falling? We believe the answer to these questions is a resounding "yes."
The task of investigating paranormal phenomena, and belief in them, has been taken up by psychology. During the late 1800s, the eminent Harvard psychologist, William James, conducted investigations into paranormal phenomena and was influential in the early activities of the American Society for Psychical Research (Irwin & Watt, 2006). Notable also is the work of J. B. Rhine, who joined the psychology faculty of Duke University in 1928 and established a laboratory there to study paranormal phenomena. Although Rhine failed to provide convincing empirical support for the phenomena he investigated, his pioneering work in applying the scientific method and statistical analysis to the investigation of such phenomena is regarded as a step forward. At about the same time that Rhine's negative findings were providing fuel for skeptics, a master magician named Harry Houdini was working to expose spiritualist mediums who used sleight of hand and magicians' tricks to extract money from those desperate to contact their deceased loved ones. There are many modern day skeptics, including many psychologists. Master magician, paranormal debunker, and author James Randi is perhaps the most outspoken modern day skeptic, maintaining a standing offer of $1,000,000 for anyone who can demonstrate paranormal ability under controlled laboratory conditions (James Randi Educational Foundation, 2010). The prize remains unclaimed.
Skeptics maintain that...