Why Belief in the Supernatural is Natural for Some

With Halloween approaching, a recent study looks at believe in the supernatural, and how it's only natural to believe in the possibility of another world not so different from our own.

Researchers discuss, among other things, the believe in magic and Halloween as a rich celebration of stories that share direct insight in human behavior, via a presentation that will be shown at the SPSP annual convention in Austin.

The study concludes the following, via a press release: "In many parts of the world, belief in witchcraft and magic is alive and well, with people relying on rituals for everything from treating asthma to curbing infidelity. Even if you don't believe in witchcraft outside of Halloween, chances are you believe in some form of the supernatural, even if just the power of the ritual -- whether wearing a lucky jersey to bestow luck on your favorite sports team or praying for a sick friend.

"From a young age, many people develop beliefs in the supernatural, often through participation in rituals, to influence events in the natural world. By studying real-life Brazilian rituals, Cristine Legare and André Souza of the University of Texas at Austin were able to create their own rituals to examine why people think they work. They are now finding that rituals help people gain a sense of control over their environment."

As the history of this festive holiday originated from an ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced "sah-win"), ever year, the celebration commemorates the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and more of the holiday can be learned with each new holiday.

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.