Belief in and Experience with the Paranormal: Relations between Personality Boundaries, Executive Functioning, Gender Role, and Academic Variables

Abstract

The present study examined individual differences in beliefs in the paranormal. One hundred and ninety-three college students were given a questionnaire measuring executive functioning, boundaries of personality, masculinity and femininity, and college major. Overall, 75 percent of participants reported belief in at least one of four types of paranormal activity and 42 percent reported experiencing at least one of four types of paranormal activity. Thinness of personality boundaries was related to belief in, as well as experience with, the paranormal. There was also a relationship between belief and experience and gender role. There was no evidence for a relationship between belief in the paranormal and year in college or college major.