Perkins Stefanie L, Allen Rhiannon
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. New York, New York 10032, USA.
J Nerv Ment Dis. 2006 May;194(5):349-55. doi: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000217832.85665.c5.
This study compared paranormal belief systems in individuals with and without childhood physical abuse histories. The Revised Paranormal Belief Scale and the Assessing Environments III Questionnaire were completed by 107 University students. Psi, precognition, and spiritualism, which are thought to provide a sense of personal efficacy and control, were among the most strongly held beliefs in abused subjects, and were significantly higher in abused versus nonabused subjects. Superstition and extraordinary life forms, thought to have an inverse or no relation to felt control, were the least strongly held beliefs in abused subjects, and, along with religious beliefs, did not differ between the two abuse groups. Witchcraft was unexpectedly found to be the most strongly held belief among those with abuse histories. Results suggest that by providing a sense of control, certain paranormal beliefs may offer a powerful emotional refuge to individuals who endured the stress of physical abuse in childhood.
本研究比较了有和没有童年身体虐待史的个体的超自然信仰体系。107名大学生完成了修订后的超自然信仰量表和《评估环境III问卷》。心灵感应、预知和唯灵论被认为能提供个人效能感和控制感，在受虐待的受试者中是最强烈持有的信念之一，且在受虐待与未受虐待的受试者之间有显著差异。迷信和奇异生命形式被认为与感知到的控制呈反比或无关联，是受虐待受试者中最不强烈持有的信念，并且与宗教信仰一样，在两个受虐待组之间没有差异。出乎意料的是，巫术被发现在有虐待史的人群中是最强烈持有的信念。结果表明，通过提供控制感，某些超自然信仰可能为那些在童年时期遭受身体虐待压力的个体提供强大的情感庇护。
