The science of ‘weird shit’: why we believe in fate, ghosts and conspiracy theories
Apr 4, 2024
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Psychologist Chris French discusses the psychology behind paranormal beliefs and conspiracy theories, exploring cognitive biases and evolutionary factors influencing our attraction to supernatural phenomena. The conversation delves into the challenges of changing minds, navigating skepticism, and engaging with believers in debates.
People tend to gravitate towards paranormal explanations due to cognitive biases and prior religious beliefs.
Deep dives
The Focus of Anomalistic Psychology on Explaining Paranormal Experiences
Anomalistic Psychology aims to provide non-paranormal explanations for seemingly paranormal events by exploring factors like memory unreliability, hallucinations, and cognitive biases affecting perception. This approach challenges the belief in supernatural forces by investigating psychological mechanisms that underlie unusual experiences.
Inclination Towards Paranormal Beliefs Due to Cognitive Biases and Prior Beliefs
People tend to lean towards paranormal explanations for experiences when rational explanations are challenging to find. Factors like prior religious beliefs, evolutionary cognitive biases like intentionality bias, and a fascination with coincidence contribute to the inclination towards fantastical interpretations.
Cognitive Biases in Belief Systems: Link Between Paranormal Beliefs and Conspiracy Theories
Cognitive biases, such as repetition avoidance bias, play a role in reinforcing paranormal beliefs. These biases also intersect with belief in conspiracy theories, highlighting commonalities in how people interpret events as intentional or conspiratorial. Such biases challenge critical thinking and can lead individuals into intellectual black holes of unfalsifiable beliefs.
Psychologist Chris French has spent decades studying paranormal claims and mysterious experiences, from seemingly-impossible coincidences to paintings that purportedly predict the future. Ian Sample sits down with French to explore why so many of us end up believing in, what he terms, ‘weird shit’, and what we can learn from understanding why we’re drawn to mysterious and mystic phenomena. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
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