What can the paranormal in popular culture tell us about our relationship with the sacred in contemporary society?

Castro, Madeleine

doi:10.4324/9781315184661-2

Cited by 3 publications

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“…Highly deleterious life experiences develop magical thinking (Hoffmann et al, 2022;Liu et al, 2021) and negative emotional schemas in both genders (males and females), leading to psychopathology (Leahy, 2019). Paranormal believers use magical thinking to understand their ambiguous life experiences to cope well (Baker and Bader, 2014;Castro, 2019), and emotional schemas are the interpretations of self and others' emotions according to individual's preferences (Leahy & Tirch., 2011). Research shows that paranormal beliefs (Liu et al, 2021;Thalbourne & Storm, 2019) and emotional schemas (Naderi et al, 2015) play a significant role in several psychiatric disorders in males and females, including anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, marital conflicts, psychosis, and personality disorders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Differences: Paranormal Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Schemas

Amber Roohee,

Munazza Sunbal

2023

JASS

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This study aimed to assess and compare the level of paranormal beliefs and maladaptive emotional schemas between both genders, males and females suffering from Functional Neurological Symptom disorder (FNSD). One hundred thirty-four patients (67 males & 67 females) between 14 years to 24 years having functional neurological symptoms disorder were approached through a purposive sampling strategy from the psychiatric wards of the government and private hospitals in Lahore. The questionnaires of RPBS (Tobacky, 2004) and LESS-II (Leahy, 2002) were applied to assess paranormal beliefs and maladaptive emotional schemas, respectively. The results of the Independent sample t-test show that female patients experience a significantly different paranormal witchcraft beliefs; t (132) = 18.15, p=.000, two-tailed, and superstitions beliefs; t (132) = 33.704, p=.000, two-tailed. The effect of Cohen (d =1.705) is higher and more in females than males. In addition, findings also show the statistically significant gender difference on emotional schemas of invalidation; t (132) = 2.25, p=.026, two-tailed, on a simplistic view of emotions; t (132) = 33.704, p=.000, two-tailed, on low expression; t (132) = 5.716, p=.000, two-tailed and on blame; t (132) = -2.372, p=.019, two-tailed. The effect size of Cohen (d =0.629) is medium, however, more in females than males. This study concluded that female FNSD patients need to be more focused on modifying their paranormal witchcraft and superstitious beliefs and maladaptive emotional schemas of invalidation, simplistic view of emotions, and blaming to control them than males. Therefore, males should be adjusted for the emotion of low expression, which could be done through emotional focus therapy.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender Differences: Paranormal Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Schemas

Amber Roohee,

Munazza Sunbal

2023

JASS

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“…Supernatural beliefs may also, to some extent, "serve as a functional alternative to mainstream religious beliefs" (Waskul and Eaton 2018:5). Belief in the supernatural suggests that many people are experiencing shifts to how they perceive the world and make meaning from it (Castro 2019; see also Baker and Bader 2014 for an analysis of age and supernatural belief or engagement).…”

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Supernatural Sociology: Americans’ Beliefs by Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Education

Silva

Woody

2022

Socius

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The authors analyze the 2020–2021 Chapman University Survey of American Fears ( n = 1,035), the most recent nationally representative survey to examine fears of and beliefs about supernatural and paranormal phenomena, including ghosts, hauntings, zombies, psychics, telekinesis, Bigfoot or Sasquatch, Atlantis, and extraterrestrial visitation. This research examines how supernatural beliefs vary by race/ethnicity, gender, and education after adjustment for other demographic characteristics and religiosity. There were five gender differences, such that women were more likely than men to believe in or fear all nonmaterial or spiritual supernatural phenomena, as well as Atlantis. People with a bachelor’s degree or higher were less likely to believe in extraterrestrial visitation, hauntings, Bigfoot or Sasquatch, and Atlantis. There were also six beliefs and fears for which racial/ethnic differences emerged. The results highlight how gender, education, and race/ethnicity are strongly related to complex belief systems, including supernatural phenomena.

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“… 2. This is a pejorative label which is not used by those embedded in such practices (Castro, 2019; Partridge, 2004). …”

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confidence: 99%

Introducing the Red Tent: A Discursive and Critically Hopeful Exploration of Women’s Circles in a Neoliberal Postfeminist Context

Castro

2020

Sociological Research Online

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Red Tents (RTs) are women’s circles that have increased in popularity in recent years, but they are an under-researched movement. This article explores the way in which RTs are presented online by those involved. Setting these groups in a postfeminist context, and building on the work of Longman, I explore the place of RTs in relation to neoliberal discourses of individualism and autonomy. Via an analysis of the RTs online presence, I argue that the RT presents as a place of acceptance (of self and others) where negative emotions can be aired and bonds between women are formed. While acknowledging several caveats to accepting this presentation at face value – not least the potential perpetuation of hegemonic power relations, systemic inequalities and privilege, particularly regarding biological essentialism and whiteness – I also assert that the full picture is more nuanced. Drawing on a feminist position of possibility, ultimately I argue that RTs appear to offer a refuge of resistance from neoliberalism.

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What can the paranormal in popular culture tell us about our relationship with the sacred in contemporary society?

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Gender Differences: Paranormal Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Schemas

Gender Differences: Paranormal Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Schemas

Supernatural Sociology: Americans’ Beliefs by Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Education

Introducing the Red Tent: A Discursive and Critically Hopeful Exploration of Women’s Circles in a Neoliberal Postfeminist Context

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