Page No: 205-212
Shilpa Rawat, Lovedeep Kaur
Akal University, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda
Manpreet Kaur
Punjabi University, Patiala
This research explores the relationship between anxiety and paranormal perceptions,
examining how cognitive biases and cultural beliefs mediate and moderate this
relationship. Hypotheses posited that individuals with higher levels of anxiety are more
likely to interpret ambiguous stimuli as paranormal. Additionally, cognitive biases, such
as pattern recognition and attribution errors, mediate this relationship, while cultural
orientation moderates the effect. Over four weeks, 400 participants were exposed to
ambiguous stimuli in a controlled laboratory setting. Data collection involved
demographic questionnaires, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Remote
Perception Belief Scale (RPBS), and pattern recognition tasks. Descriptive statistics
revealed moderate anxiety levels (state anxiety: M = 47.2, trait anxiety: M = 50.4) and
diverse paranormal belief scores (M = 35.8). Regression analyses confirmed that anxiety
significantly predicted paranormal interpretations (â = 0.43, p < .001, R² = 0.18). Mediation
analysis indicated that pattern recognition bias partially mediated the anxiety-paranormal
perception relationship (indirect effect = 0.21, 95% CI [0.13, 0.30]). Additionally, cultural
orientation significantly moderated the relationship between anxiety and paranormal
beliefs (interaction effect â = 0.18, p < .01), with spiritual cultures amplifying paranormal
interpretations under high anxiety. Exploratory analysis revealed gender differences,
with females reporting higher paranormal belief scores compared to males (t(398) =
4.8, p < .001). The study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how anxiety,
cognitive biases, and cultural beliefs interact to shape paranormal perceptions, providing
implications for theory and potential interventions to mitigate maladaptive beliefs. Future
research could explore longitudinal designs and additional emotional states influencing
these perceptions. This study emphasizes the intersection of psychological and cultural
factors in paranormal belief systems