Abstract

This study undertook an empirical exploration of the existence of a typology of paranormal believers. On the basis of a mail survey of Australian adults, data on the paranormal beliefs of 228 participants (aged 19-72 yrs) were subjected to a hierarchical cluster analysis. A 4-cluster solution was identified and shown to have internal validity. In terms of the profile of paranormal beliefs presented by each of the 4 clusters, a typology of paranormal believers is proposed to comprise what may be termed Traditional Religious believers, Tentative believers, Skeptics, and New Agers. Scores on an index of dissociative tendencies provided some testimony to the external validity of this typology.