The epistemologies of research on the survival of consciousness after death in the golden era of the Society for Psychical Research (1882-1930).

The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) of London was founded in 1882 with the purpose of investigating psychical phenomena, especially the theme of survival, with scientific rigour. Despite the recognized importance of the SPR for dynamic psychiatry in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, there are few studies of its epistemological contributions to the theme of survival and its implications to science. In order to fill this gap, we have consulted the main journals of the SPR in its golden period, and highlight the epistemologies of Sidgwick, Myers, James, Podmore, Schiller, Lodge and Richet. We conclude that the authors, whether for or against survival, argued in defence of an expanded science, and looked forward to understanding the complexity of human experience.

Evaluation of the Occurrence of Anomalous Information Reception in Messages in an Allegedly Mediumistic Process.

The study of mediumship and the phenomenon of Anomalous Information Reception (AIR) has the potential to produce new evidence about the mind and its relationship with the brain. This study investigated the occurrence of AIR in an allegedly mediumistic procedure. To control leakage of information, the medium was filmed and remained under supervision throughout all procedures. The hit rate of the items of information generated was analyzed as well as signs of fraud (such as cold reading, deduction and the use of generalization) and the information disclosed to the medium. The medium produced 57 items of information, of which six were not recognized, four had been disclosed, six could have been deduced, 11 may be regarded as generic and 30 were correct, were not disclosed or were very unlikely to have been deduced, obtained by cold reading or considered generic. The result is highly indicative of the occurrence of AIR.

Birthmarks and birth defects in the head and neck region and claims of past-life memories: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review compiles published information on subjects with head or neck birth defects or birthmarks in which past-life memories were alleged. DATA SOURCES: Electronic searches were done in April 2022 in the following bibliographic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. STUDY SELECTION: References of the included studies and the gray literature were searched. Our sample included six studies reporting 19 cases of birthmarks and birth defects in the head and neck region with alleged past-life memories. DATA EXTRACTION: The features of the lesions varied, and their size ranged between 0.5 to 12 cm. All the cases had interviews with the family of the deceased person and the family of the child with the birthmarks, and nine of them included some type of verified official report. DATA SYNTHESIS: The strength of the evidence in the cases was analyzed using the strength-of-evidence scale. CONCLUSION: This study showed that birthmarks and birth defects in the head and neck region occurred mostly in male children, with the possibility of these marks being caused by the fatal injury of the alleged personality. The literature lacks new cases with high strength of evidence, emphasizing the need for further primary studies.

The associations between paranormal beliefs and sleep variables.

Previous studies have found significant associations between paranormal beliefs and sleep variables. However, these have been conducted on a small scale and are limited in the number of sleep variables investigated. This study aims to fill a gap in the literature by investigating paranormal beliefs in relation to a wide range of sleep variables in a large sample. Participants (N = 8853) completed a survey initiated by the BBC Focus Magazine. They reported on their demographics, sleep disturbances and paranormal beliefs. Poorer subjective sleep quality (lower sleep efficiency, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration and increased insomnia symptoms) was associated with greater endorsement of belief in: (1) the soul living on after death; (2) the existence of ghosts; (3) demons; (4) an ability for some people to communicate with the dead; (5) near-death experiences are evidence for life after death; and (6) aliens have visited earth. In addition, episodes of exploding head syndrome and isolated sleep paralysis were associated with the belief that aliens have visited earth. Isolated sleep paralysis was also associated with the belief that near-death experiences are evidence for life after death. Findings obtained here indicate that there are associations between beliefs in the paranormal and various sleep variables. This information could potentially better equip us to support sleep via psychoeducation. Mechanisms underlying these associations are likely complex, and need to be further explored to fully understand why people sometimes report "things that go bump in the night".

Congenital physical anomalies associated with deceased persons in reincarnation cases with intermissions of less than nine months.

A literature review of reincarnation cases with identified previous persons found 36 cases in which the "intermission" between lives was less than 9 months. In 9 cases, it was 7 days or fewer. In 32 cases, subjects had birthmarks or birth defects matching the previous person's wounds or other scars in location and appearance. Multiple anomalies appeared in 20 (62.5%) of the 32 cases with physical anomalies. There were 9 natural-death cases and 27 violent-death cases. In 15 (55.5%) of the violent-death cases, there was written documentation of wounds to the previous person. The most extreme birth defects occurred in cases with intermissions of 7 months or more. Interpretations of the data alternative to reincarnation are considered but found inadequate as explanatory models. If examples of reincarnation, these cases raise issues related to when exactly reincarnation occurs and the nature of the process that are important considerations for biology and medicine, as well as for philosophy. One purpose of this paper is to alert the research community to these findings in the hopes of encouraging additional research in this area.

The power within: Mass media, scientific entertainment, and the introduction of psychical research into China, 1900-1920.

How did a new science initially promoted by only a few individuals eventually become a widespread cultural phenomenon practiced and known by thousands of people? Following a transnational approach, this article traces the introduction of psychical research into China during the first two decades of the 20th century. Known in the Republican period (1912-1949) as Spiritual Science (xinling kexue or xinling yanjiu), psychical research flourished between the 1920s and 1930s, playing a key role in the popularization of applied psychology and mind-cure across China. This article takes a step back from the heyday of Spiritual Science by looking at the period that immediately preceded and helped define it. Focused on wide-circulation newspapers, popular manuals, and stage performances, it teases out the ways in which Chinese popular culture translated European, American, and Japanese psychical research to local Chinese audiences in the midst of China's search for modernity. By naturalizing the reality of psychic powers, spiritual scientists blurred the boundaries between science and superstition in a period when these were posited as diametrically opposed.

Abordagem de narrativas como método de pesquisa em saúde pública: aproximações conceituais e contribuições da psicanálise / Narrative research in public health: conceptual approximations and contributions from psychoanalysis / Enfoque en narrativas como método de investigación en salud pública: aproximaciones conceptuales y aportaciones del psicoanálisis

Este artigo refere-se à parte de uma pesquisa de doutorado, realizada em hospital de alta complexidade do Sistema Único de Saúde, cujos participantes são os profissionais de saúde. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o potencial da abordagem das narrativas como método de pesquisa e intervenção nos serviços de saúde, traçando aproximações com a teoria psicanalítica. Sua relevância no campo da Saúde Pública está calcada no reconhecimento do papel do sujeito como agente de mudanças. O texto divide-se em duas partes: na primeira, explora as especificidades do trabalho na área da saúde, o paradigma da saúde pública no que concerne à gestão e possíveis contribuições da clínica ampliada para esse modelo. Na segunda parte, analisa o uso das narrativas como método de pesquisa nesse campo e as aproximações conceituais entre a narrativa em Walter Benjamin e a psicanálise em Freud. Busca na literatura referências sobre experiências análogas que fundamentem a proposta ora realizada e conclui pela importância de, no momento atual, apostar na força germinativa das narrativas como fonte criativa de novas formas de cuidar.(AU)

This article derives from a PhD research conducted with health professionals at a high-complexity public hospital from the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). It analyzes the potential of the narrative as a research and intervention method in health services, outlining approximations with psychoanalysis. In the field of Public Health, the narrative approach acknowledges the individual as an agent of change. The text is divided into two parts. The first presents an overview of the peculiarities involved in healthcare, the Public Health paradigm regarding service management and possible contributions from the expanded clinic to this model. The second analyzes the use of narratives as a research method in this field and the conceptual approximations between Benjamin's narrative and Freud's psychoanalysis. It searches the literature for references on similar experiences to support the present proposal and concludes by highlighting the importance of betting on the creative power of narratives as a source for new ways to care.(AU)

Este artículo es parte de una investigación doctoral, realizada con los profesionales de la salud de un hospital de alta complejidad del Sistema Único de Salud de Brasil. Su propósito es analizar el potencial del enfoque en narrativas como método de investigación e intervención en los servicios de salud, esbozando aproximaciones entre las narrativas y la teoría del psicoanálisis. Su relevancia en el campo de la salud pública se basa en el reconocimiento del rol del sujeto como agente de cambio. El texto se divide en dos partes: La primera investiga las especificidades del trabajo en el área de la salud, el paradigma de la salud pública en la gestión de los servicios y las posibles contribuciones de la clínica ampliada a este modelo. En la segunda parte, analiza el uso de narrativas como método de investigación en este campo y las aproximaciones conceptuales entre la narrativa de Walter Benjamin y el psicoanálisis de Freud. Este estudio busca en la literatura referencias sobre experiencias similares que apoyen la propuesta ahora realizada y concluye con la importancia de, en el momento actual, apostar por el poder de las narrativas como fuente creadora de nuevas formas de cuidar.(AU)

Notas sobre o pesquisar em cena(s) / Notes on researching in scenes / Notas sobre la investigación en escena(s)

O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar a construção metodológica desenvolvida em uma pesquisa de mestrado, na qual sustentamos a escrita de cenas como método de pesquisa da escuta clínica. As cenas do trabalho em questão foram recolhidas ao longo do tempo, no contorno da experiência de um projeto de extensão universitária de atenção à infância e adolescência em situação de vulnerabilidade social, situado em uma comunidade periférica. Apresentamos, neste texto, as interrogações que se elaboraram em torno da escolha pelo trabalho com cenas, e compartilhamos o resgate histórico dessas como um método de escrever a clínica, bem como a retomada de sua análise a partir da tradição psicanalítica. Amparadas nesta teoria e em leituras e contribuições do filósofo francês Jacques Derrida, embasamos a noção de que a cena se constitui como um lugar de produção, ao engendrar a configuração particular de elementos significantes nos processos de subjetivação e de construção social. A cena não é, então, compreendida aqui como uma representação do que acontece na clínica, mas como um modo de produzir a escuta e os seus processos de investigação.(AU)

This article aims to present the methodological construction developed in a master's research, in which the writing of scenes as a method of clinical listening research was endorsed. The scenes from the study in question were collected over time, from the experience gained in a project conducted within a university extension program on care in childhood and adolescence in social vulnerability, in a peripheral community. In this study, we present some questions that were elaborated surrounding the choices of working with scenes; and we share the historical rescue of this work as a method of writing on clinic practices and resuming their analysis from the psychoanalytic tradition. Based on the psychoanalytic theory and on the readings and contributions of the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, we corroborate the notion that the scene is constituted as a place of production, engendering the particular configuration of significant elements in the processes of subjectivation and social construction. Here, the scene is not a representation of clinical practice but one mode of producing listening and its research processes.(AU)

Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar la construcción metodológica desarrollada en una investigación de maestría, en la que sostenemos la escritura de escenas como método de investigación de la escucha clínica. Las escenas del trabajo en cuestión se recogieron a lo largo del tiempo desde la experiencia en un proyecto de extensión universitario de atención a la niñez y adolescencia en situación de vulnerabilidad social aplicado en una comunidad periférica. En este texto, presentamos los interrogantes que se elaboraron en torno a la elección por el trabajo con escenas y compartimos el rescate histórico de las mismas como un método de escribir la clínica y la reanudación del análisis a partir de la tradición psicoanalítica. Amparadas en el psicoanálisis y en lecturas y contribuciones del filósofo francés Jacques Derrida, nos basaremos en la noción de que la escena se constituye como un lugar de producción, engendrando la configuración particular de elementos significantes en los procesos de subjetivación y de construcción social. La escena no es aquí una representación de lo que pasa en la clínica, sino un modo de producir escucha y sus procesos de investigación.(AU)

A clínica psicanalítica das urgências subjetivas no hospital universitário: construção de um caso clínico / Psychoanalysis of subjective urgencies at a university hospital: construing a clinical case / La clínica psicoanalítica de urgencias subjetivas en el hospital universitario: construcción de un caso clínico

O hospital constitui-se como um contexto em que a urgência subjetiva pode vir a se apresentar de forma frequente, instaurando, para cada sujeito, uma vivência de angústia. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar as possibilidades para uma clínica das urgências subjetivas no contexto de um hospital universitário em Salvador, considerando as vivências em uma residência multiprofissional. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa de caráter exploratório, em que se realizou revisão teórica sobre o tema e se construiu um caso clínico, sob orientação psicanalítica. A escolha do caso baseou-se na escuta clínica ao longo dos atendimentos e da atuação em equipe multiprofissional, considerando os impasses ao longo do tratamento. Foram utilizados registros documentais produzidos pela psicóloga residente ao longo dos atendimentos, que ocorreram durante três meses. Os resultados apontam para as contribuições da escuta psicanalítica no tratamento das urgências e na atuação em equipe multiprofissional no contexto hospitalar. A subjetivação da urgência permitiu, no caso em questão, um tratamento pela palavra do que havia incidido diretamente no corpo como fenômeno. Conclui-se pela relevância em discutir o tema da urgência e suscitar novas pesquisas, reintroduzindo no contexto hospitalar a questão sobre a subjetividade.(AU)

Hospitals are contexts in which subjective urgency can frequently materialize, triggering an experience of anguish for each subject. Hence, this research investigates the possibilities of establishing a subjective urgency clinic at a university hospital in Salvador, considering the experiences in a multidisciplinary residence. A qualitative, exploratory research was conducted by means of a theoretical review on the topic and construction of a clinical case, under psychoanalytical advisement. The case was chosen based on clinical listening during the sessions and performance in a multidisciplinary team, considering the obstacles for long-term treatment. Data were collected from documentary records produced by the resident psychologist during three months. Results point to the contributions of psychoanalytic listening to treating subjective urgencies and to the performance of a multidisciplinary team in the hospital context. In the case in question, subjectivation of urgency allowed a treatment through the word of affecting phenomenon. In conclusion, discussing urgency and conducting further research, are fundamental to reintroduce subjectivity in the hospital context.(AU)

El hospital es un contexto en el que frecuentemente se puede percibir una urgencia subjetiva, estableciendo una experiencia de angustia para cada sujeto. El objetivo de esta investigación fue investigar las posibilidades de una clínica de urgencia subjetiva en el contexto de un hospital universitario en Salvador (Brasil), considerando las experiencias en una Residencia Multiprofesional. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa, de carácter exploratorio, en la que se realizó una revisión teórica sobre el tema y construcción de un caso clínico, con orientación psicoanalítica. La elección del caso se basó en la escucha clínica a lo largo de las sesiones y actuación en un equipo multidisciplinar, considerando los impasses para el tratamiento a largo plazo. Se utilizaron registros documentales elaborados por el psicólogo residente, durante las atenciones, que se realizaron durante tres meses. Los resultados apuntan a las contribuciones de la escucha psicoanalítica en el tratamiento de urgencias y en la actuación de un equipo multidisciplinario en el contexto hospitalario. La subjetivación de la urgencia permitió, en el caso en cuestión, un tratamiento a través de la palabra de lo que había afectado directamente al cuerpo como fenómeno. Se concluye que es relevante discutir el tema de la urgencia y plantear nuevas investigaciones, reintroduciendo el tema de la subjetividad en el contexto hospitalario.(AU)

Believing is seeing: The link between paranormal beliefs and perceiving signal in noise.

Research suggests that at the core of paranormal belief formation is a tendency to attribute meaning to ambiguous stimuli. But it is unclear whether this tendency reflects a difference in perceptual sensitivity or a decision bias. Using a two-alternative forced choice task, we tested the relationship between paranormal belief and perceptual sensitivity. Participants were shown two stimuli presented in temporal succession. In one interval an ambiguous Mooney Face (i.e., signal) was presented, in the other interval a scrambled version of the image (i.e., noise) was presented. Participants chose in which of the two intervals the face appeared. Our results revealed that participants with stronger beliefs in paranormal phenomena were less sensitive to discriminating signal from noise. This finding builds on previous research using "yes/no" tasks, but importantly disentangles perceptual sensitivity from response bias and suggests paranormal believers perceive things differently.

God Locus of Health Control, Paranormal Beliefs, and Hypnotizability.

Belief in the paranormal (e.g., spirits, extrasensory perception, fortune telling, extraterrestrials) is common. Extraordinary and magical beliefs have been linked with hypnotizability. A total of 167 undergraduates completed measures of paranormal and magical beliefs, locus of control, absorption, fantasy proneness, expectancy about being hypnotized, and the God Locus of Health Control scale (GLHC) and were hypnotized with the HGSHS:A. High and medium hypnotizable participants more strongly agreed with statements reflecting paranormal and magical beliefs and the assertion that God directly controls their health, relative to those less responsive to hypnosis. Using stepwise regression, we found that expectations about hypnosis along with scores on the GLHC scale accounted for 26% and 30% of the variance in behavioral and subjective scores on the HGSHS:A, respectively. The authors discuss paranormal beliefs and the link between the GLHC and hypnotizability.

The Relationship Between Paranormal Beliefs, Social Efficacy and Social Outcome Expectations in Muslim Society: The Case of Turkey.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of religious and classical paranormal beliefs on social efficacy and social outcome expectations. The study was conducted with 340 individuals between March 1, 2021, and April 2, 2021. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Paranormal Belief Scale and the Social Efficacy and Social Outcome Expectations Scale. Statistically significant positive correlations were found among traditional religious beliefs, classical paranormal beliefs, spiritualism, witchcraft, social efficacy expectations and social outcome expectations. It was concluded that traditional religious beliefs may be effective in improving the social acceptance of individuals, and believing in a common religious/cultural supreme entity unites individuals.

Forced-choice experiment on Anomalous Information Reception and correlations with states of consciousness using the Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2).

CONTEXT: An Anomalous Information Reception (AIR) experiment was developed. OBJECTIVE: To statistically examine the occurrence of AIR in multiple experimental tests and explore their predictive psychological mechanisms. DESIGN: First, we investigated whether human beings could guess the positive or negative content from 30 randomly selected images that would be presented on a computer screen, one at a time. Ninety participants reported being mediums and another 90 claimed to be nonbelievers in the paranormal. The participants were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: (1) positive-relaxing environments, (2) neutral environments, and (3) negative-stimulating environments. Second, the prediction of successes recorded in the AIR experiment was tested using five Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2) scales that measured the altered state of consciousness (ASC) and suggestibility. RESULTS: The successes did not exceed the estimated chance. The only significant results revealed that mediums obtained a greater number of correct answers than the non-believing participants. Bayesian estimation also confirmed these results. In the same way, the altered states of consciousness and suggestibility negatively predicted 25.8% of successes in the AIR experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient statistical evidence was obtained for AIR. The results raise doubts about previous theories on AIR. Further research is required. Nevertheless, mediums obtained more success answers than nonbelievers did. This means that the anomalous sheep-goat effect is also present in mediums and supports results obtained in previous studies.

Diálogos entre C. G. Jung e William James: as pesquisas psíquicas / Diálogos entre C. G. Jung e William James: las investigaciones psíquicas / Dialogues between C. G. Jung e William James: the psychical researches

RESUMO. C. G. Jung e William James compartilhavam uma série de interesses de pesquisa. Por ocasião da Conferência realizada na Universidade de Clark, no ano de 1909, os dois autores tiveram a oportunidade de se encontrar e conversar. Os debates abordaram temas que não estavam na pauta da conferência, especialmente pesquisas psíquicas, também chamadas modernamente de experiências anomalísticas ou relacionadas à 'psi'. Desde seu período como estudante de medicina, Jung se interessou pelos fenômenos anômalos da consciência, tendo pesquisado os principais autores associados ao espiritualismo dos séculos XVIII e XIX. William James foi pesquisador reconhecido dos chamados fenômenos psíquicos, tendo participado de sociedades como a Society for Psychical Research e a American Society for Psychical Research. Através de seus estudos, James e Jung buscavam contribuir para a psicologia dinâmica, também chamada de psicologia profunda. O objetivo deste artigo foi ampliar os diálogos estabelecidos na universidade de Clark, resgatando informações importantes acerca da teoria dos dois autores.

RESUMEN. C. G. Jung y William James compartían una serie de intereses de investigación. En la conferencia celebrada en la Universidad de Clark, en 1909, los dos autores tuvieron la oportunidad de encontrarse y conversar. Los debates se centraron en temas que no estaban en la agenda de la conferencia, especialmente en la investigación psíquica, también llamada en la actualidad experiencia anomalística o relacionada con la psi. Jung de su tiempo como estudiante de medicina se interesó por fenómenos anómalos de conciencia, después de habiendo investigado los autores principales asociados con el espiritualismo de los siglos XVIII y XIX. William James era conocido investigador de los llamados fenómenos psíquicos, y participó en las sociedades como la Society for Psychical Research y la American Society for Psychical Research. James y Jung a través de sus estudios trataron de contribuir a la psicología dinámica, también llamada psicología profunda. El propósito de este artículo es ampliar el diálogo establecido en la Universidad de Clark, rescatando la información importante acerca de la teoría de los dos autores.

ABSTRACT. C.G. Jung and William James shared several research interests. At the conference held at Clark University in 1909, the two authors could meet and talk. The debates were especially on topics regarding psychical research, contemporarily also called anomalistic or psi-related experiences, which were not considered on the conference schedule. Since his period as a medical student, Jung has been interested in anomalous phenomena of consciousness, having researched the prominent authors associated with the spiritualism of the 18th and 19th centuries. William James was a recognized researcher of the so-called psychic phenomena, participating in societies such as Society for Psychical Research and the American Society for Psychical Research. Through their studies, James and Jung aspired to contribute to dynamic psychology, also called depth psychology. This article aimed to broaden the dialogues established at Clark University, rescuing important information about the theory of the two authors.

Examining implicit beliefs in a replication attempt of a time-reversed priming task.

Background: Psi research is a controversial area of science that examines telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and psychokinesis (mind over matter). Central to the debate over the existence of psi is of whether independent investigators can replicate reportedly successful psi experiments. One important variable involves the beliefs of experimenters and participants. A preregistered experiment is presented that sought to replicate and extend previously published parapsychology experiments suggestive of precognition by examining implicit beliefs. Methods: On each trial of the standard (non-psi) priming task, a pleasant or unpleasant word (the "prime") is briefly shown on computer screen, followed immediately by a pleasant or unpleasant picture. Trials on which the image and the priming word have different valences are termed "Incongruent"; trials on which the picture and the priming word share a common valence are termed "Congruent". Participants in such experiments typically respond more slowly on Incongruent trials than on Congruent trials. In this "time-reversed" psi version of the experiment, the presumed cause-effect sequence is reversed so that the prime is not flashed until after the participant has already recorded his or her judgment. The experimental hypothesis remains the same: response times will be longer on trials with Incongruent prime/picture pairs than on trials with Congruent prime/picture pairs. Additionally, the study assesses expectations of success on the psi task of 32 experimenters-each testing 12 participants-using self-report questionnaires and the Implicit Association Task (IAT). Results: A significant correlation was found between the Implicit Association Test (IAT) effect and the participants' reported beliefs in psi, with the effect in the direction opposite to the hypothesized correlation. Conclusions: This study offers an innovative approach to the role of beliefs in psi in a precognition study and speaks to the challenges of replication in controversial science.

"Never sacrifice anything to laboratory work": The "physiological psychology" of Charles Richet (1875-1905).

Whilst best known as a Nobel laureate physiologist, Charles Robert Richet (1850-1935) was also a pioneer of scientific psychology. Starting in 1875 Richet had a leading role in the habilitation of hypnosis, in the institutionalization of psychology in France, and in the introduction of methodological innovations. Authoring several psychology books, Richet's works contributed to the recognition of the scientific nature of the discipline. This role is often underplayed by some historians and psychology textbooks in favor of his later position as a proponent of the controversial discipline he christened metapsychics in 1905, which today lies within the province of parapsychology. In this article, we show how his psychological approach guided by physiology, or physiological psychology, facilitated the reception of psychology. We hypothesize a strong continuity between his physiological psychology and his metapsychics, as he himself considered metapsychics as an advanced branch of physiology, and thus also an outpost of psychology.

On the Adaptive Value of Paranormal Beliefs - a Qualitative Study.

Ten female and five male participants (age range 28-50 years) were recruited at esoteric fairs or via esoteric chatrooms. In a guided face-to-face interview, they reported origins and contents of their beliefs in e.g. esoteric practices, supernatural beings, rebirthing, channeling. Transcripts of the tape-recorded reports were subjected to a qualitative analysis. Exhaustive categorization of the narratives' content revealed that paranormal beliefs were functional with regard to two fundamental motives - striving for mastery and valuing me and mine (striving for a positive evaluation of the self). Moreover, paranormal beliefs paved the way for goal-setting and leading a meaningful life but, on the negative side, could also result in social exclusion. Results are discussed with reference to the adaptive value of paranormal beliefs.

Talking to the Dead in the Classroom: How a Supposedly Psychic Event Impacts Beliefs and Feelings.

Paranormal beliefs (PBs) are common in adults. There are numerous psychological correlates of PBs and associated theories, yet, we do not know whether such correlates reinforce or result from PBs. To understand causality, we developed an experimental design in which participants experience supposedly paranormal events. Thus, we can test an event's impact on PBs and PB-associated correlates. Here, 419 naïve students saw a performer making contact with a confederate's deceased kin. We tested participants' opinions and feelings about this performance, and whether these predicted how participants explain the performance. We assessed participants' PBs and repetition avoidance (PB related cognitive correlate) before and after the performance. Afterwards, participants rated explanations of the event and described their opinions and feelings (open-ended question). Overall, 65% of participants reported having witnessed a genuine paranormal event. The open-ended question revealed distinct opinion and affect groups, with reactions commonly characterized by doubt and mixed feelings. Importantly, paranormal explanations were more likely when participants reported their feelings than when not reported. Beyond these results, we replicated that 1) higher pre-existing PBs were associated with more psychic explanations (confirmation bias), and 2) PBs and repetition avoidance did not change from before to after the performance. Yet, PBs reminiscent of the actual performance (spiritualism) increased. Results showed that young adults easily endorse PBs and paranormal explanations for events, and that their affective reactions matter. Future studies should use participants' subjective experiences to target PBs in causal designs (e.g., adding control conditions).