Event overview
020 7919 7882
Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit Invited Speaker Series, 2010/11
Abstract
Numerous studies have shown paranormal believers are prone to various cognitive deficits including a poorer understanding of probability, randomness and coincidence. The current talk discusses three recent studies which have explored paranormal believers’ tendency to misperceive coincidental events. Study 1 examines believer versus non-believer differences in the tendency to misperceive two co-occurring (‘conjunct’) events as being more likely than two singular (‘constituent’) events alone; the so-called ‘conjunction fallacy’. As expected, believers made more conjunction errors than non-believers for both paranormal and non-paranormal events. Study 2 extends this work by examining believer verses non-believer differences in conjunction biases given variation in the temporal relationship (co-occurring vs. disjointed) and level of surprise associated with the two constituent events. Surprisingly, believers’ tendency towards more conjunctive biases was unrelated to these factors. Finally, Study 3 examines the extent to which paranormal and non-paranormal causal attributions (to explain a predicted plane crash) are influenced by the scale and/or vividness crash itself. Both impacted on believers’ attributions to some extent. Results of these three studies are discussed in relation to the ‘probability misunderstanding’ as well as the more general ‘cognitive deficits’ models of paranormal belief.
Biography
Dr Paul Rogers completed a BA (Hons) in Economics and Social Policy & Administration (University of Kent, 1985-88) and then decided to become a psychologist! He went on to complete an MSc in Experimental Psychology (University of Sussex, 1991-92), an MSc in Psychological Research Methods (University of Exeter, 1994-1996) and finally a PhD in the psychology of self-perceived intuitiveness (University of Hertfordshire, 1997-2001). He has worked at the University of Central Lancashire since 2002 first as a lecturer and since 2007, as a senior lecturer in psychology. His research interests include the psychology of belief in the paranormal, the Barnum effect, self-perceived intuitiveness, psychological factors underlying lottery play and child sexual abuse blame attributions.
APRU Invited Speaker Programme
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb 2011 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm |
Accessibility
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