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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
An 8 page paper that investigates the relationship between personality and a belief in the paranormal. A number of studies are discussed that address the personality variables that are most closely related to a belief in the paranormal. The few studies that attempted to address the effect of such as belief on one's life are also reported. While there is disagreement regarding how such a belief actually affects a person's life, there is agreement regarding the personality traits that are correlated to such a belief. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Page Count:
8 pages (~225 words per page)
File: MM12_PGesp.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
of supernatural acts and superstitions has a dramatic effect on an individuals life. Matute, for instance, found that response-independent reinforcement is the result of superstitious behavior and illusion of control
and not learned helplessness as previously believed (1994). There have been only a few studies that attempted to determine if believing in the paranormal and then translating that belief
into superstitions has a positive or detrimental effect on ones life. Tobacyk and Shrader found a link between inadequate personality functioning and the use of superstitions but Smith found that
the concept of the supernatural was significant in the development of psychology (Wagner, 1996). Certainly, anyone who has studied psychology is aware of the great impact the paranormal had on
Jungs development of his concepts of psychology, therapy and personality. Other researchers reported that there are any number of reasons for a person creating and using superstitions. Van Raalte, Brewer,
Nemeroff and Linder (1991) found that people who believe they are capable of applying some control over chance outcomes tend to develop more superstitions than do people who do not
believe in this ability and Irwin (1994) established a link between children of alcoholics and a belief in the supernatural. Irwins work concluded that individuals who have a history of
traumatic events occurring during their childhood generally believe in the supernatural more than those who have not lived through early traumatic events. Research has also focused on the relationship
between belief in the paranormal and obsessive-compulsive behaviors but the results have not been consistent. Leonard, et.al. (1990), found evidence that superstitious behavior and obsessive-compulsive disorder were not related but
Frost, et.al. (1993), found direct correlation between the two. They correlated measures of superstitious belief and behaviors, i.e., believing in paranormal events, with measures of compulsivity and obsessionality and found
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