Delusions of the paranormal: A haunting question of perception

Author(s): Lange, R., Houran, J.

Journal/Book: J Nervous Mental Disease. 1998; 186(10): 637-645.

Abstract: The hypothesis that paranormal (poltergeist) experiences are delusions resulting from the affective and cognitive dynamics of percipients' interpretation of ambiguous stimuli was tested in two studies using a structural modeling approach. Consistent with attribution theory, study I indicated that such delusions are best modeled by a closed negative-feedback loop involving belief, experience, and fear as process variables. Using a more homogeneous sample tive factors, including age, gender, and tolerance of ambiguity. The model is proposed as a general framework for the understanding and study of delusions and contagious psychogenic illness, in particular.

Keyword(s): cam. var. paranormal.

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