Abstract

Investigated the intensity with which individual paranormal beliefs are embraced in relation to aspects of schizotypy and to schizophrenia spectrum processes. 194 adults (aged 18-46 yrs) completed multidimensional questionnaire measures of schizotypy and paranormal belief, and then performed a laboratory task that indexed central monitoring efficiency, a cognitive process previously implicated in the positive symptoms of schizotypy and schizophrenia. Canonical correlation analysis revealed that the factors of schizotypy predicted 3 specific combinations of 6 out of 7 paranormal beliefs, but the size and the direction of the underlying interrelationships varied. There was little evidence that paranormal beliefs were related to a central monitoring dysfunction. The findings suggest that the relationship between paranormal beliefs and schizotypy is complex. The data do not encourage the simplistic view that paranormal believers uniformly suffer a tendency toward schizophre!nic-like thought disorder.