Psychotic-like experiences in esoterism: A twilight zone?

Hinterbuchinger, Barbara; Litvan, Zsuzsa; Meyer, Elias Laurin; Friedrich, Fabian; Kaltenboeck, Alexander; Gruber, Maria; König, Daniel; Sueßenbacher, Stefanie; Mossaheb, Nilufar

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2017.08.009

Cited by 5 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Concerning maladaptive traits, our results showed that psychoticism is an independent predictor of conspiracy and paranormal beliefs. Our findings support the results of previous studies, which found psychoticism to be a correlate of paranormal beliefs (Cella et al, 2012;Hinterbuchinger et al, 2018) and some features of psychoticism (unusual forms of beliefs and experiences) were related to conspiracy . The explanation for these effects can be attributed to characteristics of psychoticism, which is a maladaptive trait characterized especially by unusual forms of beliefs along with perceptual dysregulation (APA, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Our study confirmed the results of previous research, which also found a positive relationship between religiosity and paranormal beliefs (Darwin et al, 2011;Rice, 2003;Halama, 2019b). Paranormal beliefs are a multidimensional construct that incorporates magical, esoteric, superstitious, and even religious ways of thinking (Lindeman & Aarnio, 2006;Cella et al, 2012;Hinterbuchinger et al, 2018). We consider these two areas (R/S vs. paranormal) as overlapping, because religious or spiritual worldview often includes paranormal beliefs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The research using this measure showed that especially negative affectivity and psychoticism has been linked to EUB. Psychoticism was found to be a correlate of paranormal beliefs (Cella et al, 2012;Hinterbuchinger et al, 2018) and suspicion (dimension of negative affectivity) and unusual forms of beliefs and experiences (dimension of psychoticism) were linked to conspiracy beliefs . Genovese (2005) pointed to the relationship between paranormal beliefs and a disorganized form of schizotypal thinking (various esoteric tendencies).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Maladaptive Personality Traits, Religiosity and Spirituality as Predictors of Epistemically Unfounded Beliefs

Teličák¹,

Haľama²

2021

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The present research focuses on the question whether spirituality, religiosity and maladaptive personality traits, as measured by the PID-5 (antagonism, psychoticism, disinhibition, negative affectivity, detachment), predict epistemologically unfounded beliefs (conspiracies, pseudo-science and paranormal beliefs). The sample included 829 participants recruited through social networks (58% women, mean age 29.98 years). The results showed that especially psychoticism is a positive predictor of all types epistemologically unfounded beliefs (EUB). Spirituality and religiosity predicted only paranormal beliefs with very small effect size. No interaction between psychoticism and spirituality/religiosity in prediction of EUB was found. Results confirmed that some maladaptive personality traits (especially psychoticism) can play a significant role in EUB and should be taken into account when considering sources of EUB at the individual level.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Maladaptive Personality Traits, Religiosity and Spirituality as Predictors of Epistemically Unfounded Beliefs

Teličák¹,

Haľama²

2021

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“…The consequences of pseudoscientific beliefs on the health of people were analyzed and investigated from multiple perspectives [4,18]. These perspectives can be summarized in two models: the first model is based on the psychopathological and symptomatic effects that pseudoscientific beliefs produce in patients [19][20][21][22][23]. Most studies conclude that pseudoscientific beliefs represent an attribute of the psychotic phenotype, which is included within the psychosis continuum model [24,25].…”

Section: Social Health and Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pseudoscientific beliefs and psychopathological risks increase after COVID-19 social quarantine

et al. 2020

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Background: The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has led many countries to opt for social quarantine of the population. During this quarantine, communication systems have been characterized by disintermediation, the acceleration of digitization and an infodemic (excess and saturation of information). The following debate arises: Do the levels related to the psychotic phenotype and pseudoscientific beliefs related to the interpretation of information vary before and after social quarantine? Objectives: This research aims to examine the psychological effects of social quarantine on the psychotic phenotype and pseudoscientific beliefs-experiences of the general nonclinical population. The following hypothesis was posed: social quarantine alters the levels of magical thinking, pseudoscientific beliefs and anomalous perceptions due to quarantine. Methods: A pre-and posttest analysis design was applied based on the difference in means, and complementary Bayesian estimation was performed. A total of 174 Spanish subjects responded to different questionnaires that evaluated psychopathological risks based on psychotic phenotypes, pseudoscientific beliefs and experiences before and after quarantine. Results: Significant differences were obtained for the variables positive psychotic symptoms, depressive symptoms, and certain perceptual alterations (e.g., cenesthetic perceptions), and a significant increase in pseudoscientific beliefs was also observed. The perceptual disturbances that increased the most after quarantine were those related to derealization and depersonalization. However, paranoid perceptions showed the highest increase, doubling the initial standard deviation. These high increases could be related to the delimitation of physical space during social quarantine and distrust towards information communicated by the government to the population. Is it possible that social alarmism generated by the excess of information and pseudoscientific information has increased paranoid perceptual alterations? Conclusions: Measures taken after quarantine indicate that perceptual disturbances, subclinical psychotic symptoms and beliefs in the pseudoscience have increased. We discuss which elements of quarantine coincide with the social marginality theory and its clinical repercussions.

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“…The concept of psychosis as a transdiagnostic and extended phenotype (10) has resulted in the discussion about the redefinition of the concept and name of schizophrenia (11) and, moreover, in the examination of subclinical psychotic experiences (12)(13)(14) and the identification of PLEs as early indicators of psychosis onset (15,16). However, the variety of definitions and assessment tools of PLEs has been postulated to contribute to the discrepancy of findings regarding prevalence rates (17)(18)(19)(20) and persistence rates (21)(22)(23)(24).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychotic-Like Experiences: A Challenge in Definition and Assessment

Hinterbuchinger

Mossaheb

2021

Front. Psychiatry

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Assuming a continuum between psychotic experiences and psychotic symptoms aligned between healthy individuals and patients with non-psychotic and psychotic disorders, recent research has focused on subclinical psychotic experiences. The wide variety of definitions, assessment tools, and concepts of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) might contribute to the mixed findings concerning prevalence and persistence rates and clinical impact. In this narrative review, we address the panoply of terminology, definitions, and assessment tools of PLEs and associated concerns with this multitude. Moreover, the ambiguous results of previous studies regarding the clinical relevance of PLEs are described. In conclusion, we address clinical implications and highly suggest conceptual clarity and consensus concerning the terminology and definition of PLEs. The development of an agreed upon use of a “gold standard” assessment tool seems essential for more comparable findings in future research.

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Psychotic-like experiences in esoterism: A twilight zone?

Abstract: Younger individuals interested in esoterism seem to be more prone to reporting psychotic-like experiences compared to individuals without interest in esoterism and compared to their older counterparts.

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

Maladaptive Personality Traits, Religiosity and Spirituality as Predictors of Epistemically Unfounded Beliefs

Maladaptive Personality Traits, Religiosity and Spirituality as Predictors of Epistemically Unfounded Beliefs

Pseudoscientific beliefs and psychopathological risks increase after COVID-19 social quarantine

Psychotic-Like Experiences: A Challenge in Definition and Assessment

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