Export Citation
Export Citation
Dagnall, N, Denovan, A 
ORCID: 0000-0002-9082-7225, Murphy-Morgan, C, Drinkwater, KG, Powell, D and Neave, N
(2026)
Mind over matter? The cognitive styles of scientific scepticism and paranormal belief.
Frontiers in Psychology, 17.
Preview |
Text
fpsyg-17-1699045.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (4MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Scientific scepticism, as an epistemic orientation, remains under-researched. This study investigated the interplay between belief in science, supernatural credence, and cognitive processing styles in a sample of 300 participants (M age = 45.95, SD = 14.32). Traditional (TPB) and New Age (NAP) paranormal beliefs correlated positively with intuitive-experiential measures and negatively with analytical-rational processing indices. Belief in Science showed the inverse pattern of relationships. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) identified two distinct subgroups: Higher Evidence-based Thinking (HET; 55%), defined by high scientific and low paranormal belief, and Lower Evidence-based Thinking (LET; 45%), characterized by low scientific and high paranormal belief. HET (vs. LET) participants demonstrated significantly greater analytical-rational and lower intuitive-experiential processing. Cognitive rigidity (dogmatism and need for closure) did not differentiate between profiles, suggesting these are belief-neutral characteristics of strongly held convictions. Findings indicated that scientific and paranormal beliefs represent oppositional worldviews associated with distinct, preferred modes of information processing.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 1701 Psychology; 1702 Cognitive Sciences; 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences; 52 Psychology |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| Divisions: | Psychology (from Sep 2019) |
| Publisher: | Frontiers Media |
| Date of acceptance: | 24 February 2026 |
| Date of first compliant Open Access: | 6 March 2026 |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Mar 2026 15:58 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Mar 2026 15:58 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1699045 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28208 |
 |
View Item |