Belief in the supernatural encompasses a wide range of faith in forces, entities, or events that are considered to be beyond the realm of natural explanation or scientific understanding. These beliefs often involve concepts like spirits, demons, miracles, or paranormal phenomena. Sometimes witchcraft,  other worldly beings or even the devil were believed to be involved. A supernatural belief refers to the conviction in the existence of entities, forces, or phenomena that transcend the natural world and cannot be explained by scientific understanding or natural laws. 

Supernatural beliefs are common in various religions and can influence cultural norms, moral values, and individual behaviors. . Examples of supernatural beliefs include:

• Religious beliefs: Beliefs in deities, angels, or divine intervention.
• Spiritual beliefs: Concepts of the soul, reincarnation, or a universal life force.
• Folklore and mythology: Stories of mythical creatures, spirits, or supernatural events.

People who believe in supernatural things are not necessarily following a specific religion. Some people believe, for example, just that there is a bigger power “out there” or in reincarnation. Around the world and throughout history, people have expressed belief in the existence of powerful, invisible entities that have intentions, needs, and goals. Whether it be gods, demons, ghosts, or ancestral spirits, these supernatural entities can neither be proven to exist or not to exist. Yet belief in them is strongly held and expected of others in some religious communities. In early cultures, belief in things that could not be seen nor proven to exist was a very basic tenant of society.

Despite being separated by large distances and vast oceans, cultures around the world have very similar stories and supernatural beings as pieces of their religion. This learned belief early in life is key to reinforcing and passing on these tribal mores. So what leads individuals to embrace the darker sides of the supernatural and superstition? As recently as the 1600’s, it was easier for villagers to believe livestock are being slain by evil spirits and witchcraft than to figure out that the livestock feed might be contaminated or mosquitoes may be making livestock sick. If bad luck turns to worse luck, better to swing a dead chicken over your head or (heaven forbid) swing a witch from a nearby tree to appease the spirits or rid the town of evil magic

 So, it’s always been easier in times of misfortune to cast blame on others or an unseen evil. Humans are driven by a search for meaning, a desire for connection, and a need to cope with anxieties about life and death. Traditional supernatural beliefs are linked to a feeling that you’re not in control of your own life. Studies show that people who believe in concepts like hell, witchcraft, and devilish forces tend to see the world as controlled by powers beyond their reach.

In a research led by Kenneth Drinkwater, Manchester Metropolitan University, findings show that these individuals are linked to higher stress levels and weaker coping skills.  It suggests that folks who believe in traditional spooky stuff like the devil and witchcraft tend to feel more stressed out and less able to cope with life. Surprisingly, though, if you’re into crystals, psychic powers, or predicting the future, your stress levels probably aren’t affected at all. The supernatural can provide a sense of belonging, offer hope, and even help individuals grapple with existential questions according to psychologists Eddy White and Clay Routledge. There is an inherent human tendency to seek patterns and explanations, even in seemingly random events, can contribute to paranormal beliefs. This is basically the idea that supernatural beliefs try to give us a sense of control over stuff we can’t really control. But ironically, these beliefs might encourage avoiding problems instead of facing them head-on, which isn’t great for your mental health in the long run.

Traditional beliefs in the supernatural reflect fear about forces beyond your control. If you think the world works this way, it’s probably harder to feel calm and collected when facing problems. It is like blaming everything on fate, destiny, or the paranormal. While it might feel comforting to think “it’s all part of a bigger plan,” that approach can actually make you more passive when dealing with challenges. Instead of being active in your decision-making, you might just accept your fate.

A quarter of adults in the US consider themselves superstitious, and recent trends reveal that younger people are more superstitious than older adults. Earlier research has suggested that, in general, belief in the paranormal is not linked to stress vulnerability. Yet research on superstitious belief, a subset of paranormal belief, has suggested that people rely on superstitions in stressful situations to gain an illusion of control over outcomes. I personally know of baseball and football fans that maintain pregame rituals believing it will contribute to the success of their team. While it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact number, a YouGov study found that 24% of Americans say they carry a lucky charm at least occasionally.Supernatural beliefs can have both positive and negative impacts on individuals’ psychological well-being. While some find them adaptive, providing comfort and meaning, others may experience negative cognitive biases and psychological dysfunctions. 

Belief in the supernatural can be linked to increased intuitive thinking and confirmatory bias, while also potentially reducing conditional reasoning and perception of randomness. More research will be needed to clarify the relationship between paranormal belief and stress. The authors suggest that such research is important because paranormal belief can influence people’s everyday behavior and attitudes, such as those regarding alternative medicine, anti vaccination, and conspiracies.

Well, that’s what we say. What say you?