Personality type & paranormal Belief

ladybirdirl

While googling, I found this interesting article

2 things that stood out for me were

a)paranormal belief may serve to reduce anxiety &

b)a personality type that is greater thrill and adventure seeking were associated with greater paranormal belief

Full article here

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3852/is_199801/ai_n8783710


For my own part, I don't really get the 'reducing anxiety' bit. Maybe many people do feel more calm when they decide there is a paranormal explanation for their experiences. From my own experience, when I did an investigation, I knew what I was getting into, I wanted to experience it but when it came to the crunch, the experiences I had did cause me some anxiety. This wasn't long lasting but there was that jolt of 'OMG, this is actually happening to me'


Also the thrill seeking bit confuses me, I can see the point the article is making I think - if you're open to new experiences you would be open to paranormal but I wonder could it also be interpreted that if you're an adrenalin junkie, will you try to have a paranormal experience because it would be a huge adrenalin rush? Also what of the personality type who looks at paranormal from a purely scientific aspect, not any spiritual or emotional idea

Anyway, what would others think? I'm not putting this up as definitive theory, just interesting I think?

Ladybird

stevenmu

Interesting article, thanks.

It does make quite a bit of sense too. People who are thrill seeking are generally going to be more open to different and new types of experience. They would be the kind of people who would be curious and would want to experience lots of things, and open minded enough to look at things in multiple ways. I think you could probably even extend a little past the thrill seeking adreniline junky type to include people who are simply adventurous in general, they might try new types of foods or like trying out new activities.

Altough the adreneline junky type would have an edge in some ways, they would be more likely to be risk takers, and often paranormal activities can be viewed as very risky even by people who wouldn't nessecarily believe in them, a lot of people who don't believe in ghosts would still be scared of anything to do with them. Or to use another example, a thrill seeking type person would be much more likely to try say a ouija board than a more conservative type person.

I agree with them too about the stress aspect, in two ways that I can think of. One is that for many people a belief in something, be it a religious, spiritual or even just a paranormal belief, is calming to them. Without that belief they might get more stressed about existential questions such as the meaning of life and so on. (that doesn't apply to everyone of course, but it does for some).

The other way is that many people with a belief in the paranormal may engage in activities which will naturally relax and de-stress them, anything from meditation, to prayer, to sitting around talking about love and light and so on.

DaveJW

I would find the anxiety comment quite odd. Its very much as you put it, in most cases paranormal activity causes more. However I do know a girl, who goes on a lot of the investigations I run, who has a real hard job facing people during her day to day life. She never faces people unless she really has to. If that is the case she goes armed with a stress ball. Put her in a "haunted" venue and she is a different person. This to me is more an exception than a rule but I do find the article very interesting.

ladybirdirl

Dave,

That's very interesting about the girl who seems to 'find herself' on investigations. I know someone who is very direct in his approach to paranormal but then is also like that in every aspect of his life so obviously no surprise there but being so different away form the investigations is not something you would expect.

I know personally, I'd be a little more reticent with investigations - I'd term it a respectful fear but in general terms I'd be fairly easygoing and up for any challenge. Perhaps the article is suggesting that if you feel you have paranormal 'talent's or experiences,then having a belief that they are real as opposed to something you are imagining would make you more calm. Would that be the case with the person you know do you think? Do the investigations give her an outlet for her experiences?

Ladybird

stevenmu

I think that for some people paranormal activity may seem more normal and more 'real' than the day to day 'normal' life. For someone who believes strongly in different aspects of the paranormal, they may find ordinary situations, and socialising with others, where only more mainstream beliefs and practices would acceptable, stressful and awkward. Being in a situation where paranormal activity would be considered the normal, may be comforting and relaxing to them by comparison, and give them more of a sense of belonging.