Abstract
In order to help understand and explore how social upbringing influences who one becomes in life, a study regarding social background influences in Roman Catholicism on the belief of paranormal is considered. This is significant because the belief in things without evidence, purely based on social upbringing could play a piece into the bigger picture. Is it possible that one’s certain surroundings could make someone more susceptible into believing in the paranormal? This is what I wish to explore in my research essay. I will conduct a mixed method study, gathering data from surveys and then, conducting interviews to help explain the survey data.
Introduction
The existence of paranormal phenomenon has piqued many curious minds in the American society. A topic once easily dismissed has now begun to take root in the scientific field, as more and more claims of unnatural occurrences begun to take place in the community. Such as the claims of witnessing an after-death spirit, or claiming to see objects or symbols that are not there. Researchers are starting to explore in reasons why people believe in situations that are beyond the explanation of science. Many believe that religion, the brain, and the human need to have explanations to things that they don’t know, are reasons that influence one’s belief in the paranormal. In P.J. Olson’s “Paranormal America: Ghost Encounters, UFO Sighting, Bigfoot Hunts, and Other”, “...by showing how religion...fosters divine/human experiences, motivates people to act in benevolent ways,” (Olson, 2011, 381) supports the idea of religious influences. In the Chinese culture and …show more content…
Determining reasons why people tend to believe would help psychologists and scientists be able to break through the human mind and understand better why humans believe in the paranormal. Furthermore, helps prove or disprove that social background could in fact
In order to help understand and explore how social upbringing influences who one becomes in life, a study regarding social background influences in Roman Catholicism on the belief of paranormal is considered. This is significant because the belief in things without evidence, purely based on social upbringing could play a piece into the bigger picture. Is it possible that one’s certain surroundings could make someone more susceptible into believing in the paranormal? This is what I wish to explore in my research essay. I will conduct a mixed method study, gathering data from surveys and then, conducting interviews to help explain the survey data.
Introduction
The existence of paranormal phenomenon has piqued many curious minds in the American society. A topic once easily dismissed has now begun to take root in the scientific field, as more and more claims of unnatural occurrences begun to take place in the community. Such as the claims of witnessing an after-death spirit, or claiming to see objects or symbols that are not there. Researchers are starting to explore in reasons why people believe in situations that are beyond the explanation of science. Many believe that religion, the brain, and the human need to have explanations to things that they don’t know, are reasons that influence one’s belief in the paranormal. In P.J. Olson’s “Paranormal America: Ghost Encounters, UFO Sighting, Bigfoot Hunts, and Other”, “...by showing how religion...fosters divine/human experiences, motivates people to act in benevolent ways,” (Olson, 2011, 381) supports the idea of religious influences. In the Chinese culture and …show more content…
Determining reasons why people tend to believe would help psychologists and scientists be able to break through the human mind and understand better why humans believe in the paranormal. Furthermore, helps prove or disprove that social background could in fact