What's in a Term? Paranormal, Superstitious, Magical and Supernatural Beliefs by Any Other Name Would Mean the Same

被引:86
作者
Lindeman, Marjaana [1 ]
Svedholm, Annika M. [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Helsinki, Div Cognit Psychol & Neuropsychol, Inst Behav Sci, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
关键词
magical; paranormal; supernatural; superstitious; THOUGHT-ACTION FUSION; BY-PRODUCTS; THINKING; CHILDREN; RELIGION; BEHAVIOR; COUNTERINTUITIVENESS; PROBABILITY; RELIABILITY; SECONDARY;
D O I
10.1037/a0027158
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
What are paranormal, superstitious, magical, and supernatural (PSMS) beliefs and what, if anything, separates them? Currently, use of the concepts is ambiguous and agreement is weak. A literature search for articles dealing with PSMS beliefs during the last two decades produced conceptual definitions that we grouped into seven groups. Five groups consisted of definitions that were domain-general, namely false beliefs, belief in scientifically impossible phenomena, and associative biases (covariation bias, laws of sympathetic magic, and irrational acts). Two sets of definitions were domain-specific (content-dependent), namely counterintuitive and intuitive beliefs about physical, biological, and psychological phenomena. Empirical methods were reviewed to show what kinds of beliefs have been examined under the rubrics paranormal, supernatural, magical, or superstitious. We concluded that the concepts paranormal, superstitious, magical, and supernatural denote the same thing and that domain-general definitions are inadequately precise. Defining PSMS beliefs as category mistakes that confuse the distinctive attributes of mental phenomena, material objects, living, and animate organisms, and the processes these engage in, fared best in distinguishing PSMS beliefs from other beliefs and covering relevant beliefs. We suggest researchers sharpen the content of the measures and strive to integrate lines of research that have so far remained separate.
引用
收藏
页码:241 / 255
页数:15
相关论文
共 140 条
[1]   MODERN MAGIC - THE CASE OF EXAMINATIONS [J].
ALBAS, D ;
ALBAS, C .
SOCIOLOGICAL QUARTERLY, 1989, 30 (04) :603-613
[2]  
Alcock J.E., 1990, SCI SUPERNATURE CRIT
[3]   Thought-action fusion in individuals with OCD symptoms [J].
Amir, N ;
Freshman, M ;
Ramsey, B ;
Neary, E ;
Brigidi, B .
BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH AND THERAPY, 2001, 39 (07) :765-776
[4]  
[Anonymous], 1993, FACES CLOUDS
[5]  
[Anonymous], E J INT J TRANSPERSO
[6]  
[Anonymous], Church Representation Rules
[7]  
[Anonymous], 1962, SAVAGE MIND
[8]  
[Anonymous], BEHAV BRAIN SCI
[9]  
[Anonymous], SUP
[10]  
[Anonymous], NEBRASKA S MOTIVATIO