Technical note: The level of paranormal belief and experience among psychotics

Journal/Book: J Parapsychol. 1998; 62: PO Box 6847, College Station, Durham, NC 27708. Parapsychology Press. 79-81.

Abstract: In a previous paper (Thalbourne gc Delin, 1994) it was reported that the level of belief in, and alleged experience of, the paranormal was no different between a control group of university students and two psychotic groups (manic-depressives and schizophrenics). Doubts were raised even then in that report about the appropriateness of the student controls. Here an alternative control group is presented-support-givers of those suffering from panic attacks-and it is argued that they are considerably more representative of the general population and are therefore a more appropriate control group. Statistical comparison revealed that the manic-depressives and schizophrenics are, as originally expected, significantly higher on the sheep-goat variable than are the support-givers. An explanation is given in terms of transliminality.

Note: Article Thalbourne MA, Univ Adelaide, Dept Psychol, Adelaide, SA 5005, AUSTRALIA

Zurück | Weiter