Paranormal Beliefs: Testing the Marginality Hypothesis

Charles F. Emmons · Jeff Sobal

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Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices

Abstract

Using a 1978 national Gallup poll, we test the hypothesis that social marginality is a predictor of belief in paranormal phenomena. Being female and not being married generally correlate as hypothesized with paranormal belief, but age, low education, being Black, and being unemployed generally do not. The marginality hypothesis has a questionable theoretical foundation and fails to predict a variety of beliefs consistently.

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References

1978Reports of Esctatic, Paranormal, or Religious Experience in Great Britain and the United States: A Comparison of Trends 1975Religious Movements in Contemporary America 1977The New Religious Consciousness 1976The Consciousness Reformation 1977The Sociology of the Paranormal: A Reconnaissance 1972The Occult Revival as Popular Culture: Some Random Observations on the Old and the Nouveau Witch 1972Toward the Sociology of Esoteric Culture 1969Social Correlates of Transcendental Experiences

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1981Paranormal Beliefs: Functional Alternatives to Mainstream Religion?2003Magical thinking and paranormal beliefs among secondary and university students in South Africa 1982Social Meanings of the Occult

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