Paranormal America

1. Paranormal is Pervasive and Defies Simple Definition

Despite our jest about bookstores earlier, the analogy works well here.

Defining the paranormal. The term "paranormal" is difficult to define precisely, encompassing a wide range of beliefs and experiences like ghosts, UFOs, psychic phenomena, and astrology. Unlike established religions or scientific fields, the paranormal lacks a fixed definition and is often labeled inconsistently by researchers, retailers, and the public. This ambiguity is inherent to the subject matter, which often exists "in-between" conventional categories like life/death or material/ethereal.

Cultural categorization. The paranormal is best understood as a cultural category defined by its relationship to two dominant institutions: science and mainstream religion. Science defines what is "natural" and relegates unexplained phenomena to the "supernatural" or "pseudoscience." Mainstream religions define what is "true" supernatural belief and often label other forms, like occultism or mysticism outside their tradition, as illegitimate or even demonic.

• Science: Defines "natural" vs. "supernatural" and "science" vs. "pseudoscience."
• Religion: Defines "true" supernatural belief vs. "occult" or "heresy."

Ubiquitous in America. Regardless of precise definition, the paranormal is deeply embedded in American culture. Its presence is evident in popular entertainment, tourism, and widespread public interest. This pervasive fascination suggests that, despite its elusive nature and definitional challenges, the paranormal is a significant and enduring aspect of the American landscape.

2. Paranormal Pursuits Seek Enlightenment or Discovery

Personal fulfillment and exploration trumps singular commitment.

Two distinct motivations. Within the broad realm of the paranormal, two primary motivations drive people's engagement: the pursuit of personal enlightenment and the quest for empirical discovery. These motivations often align with different types of paranormal subjects and approaches. Enlightenment seekers focus on internal, spiritual growth and self-improvement.

• Enlightenment: Focuses on personal growth, spiritual insight, and self-improvement (e.g., astrology, psychic readings, channeling).
• Discovery: Focuses on finding empirical evidence for phenomena not recognized by science (e.g., Bigfoot hunting, UFO investigation, ghost hunting).

Enlightenment pursuits. Activities like visiting psychics, consulting astrologers, or engaging in channeling are often driven by a desire for personal guidance, understanding, or transformation. For these individuals, the "truth" is subjective and internal; whether a practice is scientifically validated is less important than whether it "works for them" in providing meaning or insight. This sphere shares conceptual space with religion, emphasizing mystical experience and personal connection to the supernatural.

Discovery quests. In contrast, pursuits like hunting for Bigfoot, investigating UFO sightings, or conducting ghost hunts are often motivated by a desire to find tangible proof of unexplained phenomena. These individuals seek to validate their experiences or beliefs and convince others, including the scientific community, of the reality of their quarry. This sphere often positions itself closer to science, employing technology and attempting empirical methods, even if not recognized by mainstream science.

3. Believers Defy Simple Stereotypes, Experiences Are Common

Publicly reporting a paranormal experience or belief invites scorn and concern for one’s mental health.

Stereotypes vs. reality. A common stereotype portrays paranormal believers as marginalized, uneducated, or mentally unstable. However, survey data reveals a more complex picture, challenging these simplistic notions. While some demographic factors correlate with certain beliefs, no single profile fits all paranormal believers. Many individuals involved are surprisingly conventional.

Demographic nuances. Analysis shows that paranormal beliefs and experiences vary by demographics, but not always in predictable ways.

• Gender: Women lean towards enlightenment topics (psychics, astrology, hauntings), men towards discovery (UFOs, Bigfoot).
• Education/Income: Lower levels correlate with some beliefs (fortune-tellers, astrology, hauntings, Bigfoot), but not all (Atlantis, UFOs). Higher education dampens belief overall.
• Race: Effects are often tied to socioeconomic factors rather than race itself, though African Americans show higher belief in Atlantis and prophetic dreams.

Experiences are widespread. Perhaps most strikingly, paranormal experiences are surprisingly common across the American population. Over half of Americans report having had at least one paranormal experience, such as consulting a horoscope, visiting a psychic, living in a haunted house, or seeing a UFO. This prevalence suggests that paranormal experiences are not confined to a fringe minority but are part of the lived reality for a significant portion of the population.

• Consulting horoscope: 27.5%
• Had prophetic dream: 41%
• Lived in haunted house: 13.7%
• Witnessed UFO: 15.9%

4. Ghosts Haunt Culture, Driven by Narrative and Tech

Ghosts, by their very ephemeral nature, cross boundaries and confound attempts at definition.

Ubiquitous and enduring. Ghosts are one of the most prevalent and enduring paranormal phenomena across cultures and history. Their ability to violate fundamental binaries like life/death and past/present gives them a powerful cultural position, allowing diverse narratives and meanings to be projected onto them. This enduring fascination is reflected in the proliferation of ghost-themed media and tourism.

Syncretism and ritual. Ghost belief is often syncretic, blending with other forms of supernaturalism, including both New Age concepts (psychic communication, energy fields) and deinstitutionalized Christian beliefs (demons, angels). Ghost hunting groups frequently incorporate magical rites or rituals, often blending elements from various traditions, to communicate with, protect from, or cleanse locations of spirits. These rites serve as a means of perceived agency in dealing with the unseen.

Technology and narrative. Modern ghost hunting heavily relies on technology (EMF meters, thermal cameras, spirit boxes), which, rather than providing clear evidence, often produces ambiguous data that fuels interpretation and narrative construction. Personal narratives are central to ghost belief, serving to:

• Frame historical context (deathlore).
• Facilitate vicarious experiences (shared interpretations of data or stories).
• Provide compelling first-hand testimony.

Demographic patterns. Interest in ghosts shows distinct patterns. Younger generations, women, and religious seekers tend to exhibit higher levels of ghost belief, experience, and media consumption. This trend, particularly among the young, may reflect a shift away from traditional religious institutions towards more personalized or unconventional forms of spirituality.

5. Religion and Paranormal: A Complex Relationship

As we noted, it’s complicated.

Conflict and complement. The relationship between conventional religion and the paranormal is not straightforward; it involves both conflict and potential complementarity. While some religious traditions, particularly conservative ones, actively discourage or demonize paranormal beliefs as being "of the devil," others may be more open or even incorporate certain paranormal-like elements. Historically, attempts to merge Christian ideas with paranormal concepts (like UFO contactee movements) have largely failed to gain mainstream religious acceptance.

Curvilinear relationship. Survey data reveals a curvilinear relationship between general religiosity and paranormal belief. Individuals who are either highly religious (especially in strict traditions) or not religious at all tend to report fewer paranormal beliefs. Moderate levels of religiosity are associated with higher levels of paranormal belief. This suggests that while strong religious commitment can act as a barrier, a general openness to the supernatural, without strict doctrinal constraints, may facilitate interest in the paranormal.

Religious predictors. Specific religious factors influence paranormal belief:

• Religious Tradition: Evangelical Protestants and Black Protestants show higher belief in religious evil/experiences; Mainline Protestants and Catholics show higher belief in some paranormal topics.
• Church Attendance: Higher attendance correlates with lower paranormal belief.
• Biblical Literalism: Literal interpretation correlates with lower paranormal belief.

Angels as a bridge. Belief in angels stands out as a potential bridge between conventional religion and the paranormal. Unlike other religious beliefs, belief in angels is positively correlated with belief in various paranormal subjects like ghosts and aliens. This suggests that accepting the reality of non-material, benevolent agents within a religious framework may make it easier to accept other non-material or unexplained phenomena.

6. Deeper Involvement Forms Distinct Subcultures

Remove the element of Bigfoot, and there is nothing particularly unique about this.

Beyond casual interest. Involvement in the paranormal exists on a spectrum, moving from simple belief or isolated experience to deeper engagement within specific subcultures. This deeper involvement often includes actively seeking knowledge, participating in related practices, and navigating the social consequences of these interests. Paranormal subcultures, like any other, develop shared knowledge, argot, and celebrities.

Dimensions of involvement. Drawing on sociological theories of religiosity, involvement in paranormal subcultures can be understood through dimensions such as:

• Belief: Holding conviction in the phenomenon.
• Experience: Having personal encounters.
• Knowledge: Learning the history, evidence, and argot.
• Practice: Engaging in activities (hunting, investigating, attending events).
• Consequences: Facing social ridicule or stigma.

Research and practice. Many Americans move beyond passive belief to actively research paranormal topics through books, websites, and media. This research is often driven by prior belief or experience. A smaller, more dedicated group engages in practices like joining investigation teams or attending specialized conferences (e.g., Bigfoot conferences, psychic fairs). These events serve as hubs for knowledge exchange, networking, and reinforcing group identity.

Subculture demographics. While casual paranormal interest shows varied demographic patterns, those deeply involved in specific subcultures can exhibit distinct profiles. For example, Bigfoot hunters, particularly those in research organizations, are often surprisingly conventional in other aspects of their lives (education, income, marital status, even moderate religiosity), challenging stereotypes of extreme marginalization. Their dedication is often fueled by a desire for vindication and scientific acceptance.

7. Paranormal Generalists vs. Particularists: Stakes in Conformity

To call something “deviant” is not the same as calling it bad, evil, or crazy.

Deviance as unconventionality. Applying theories of deviance, understood as unconventional beliefs or behaviors that diverge from societal norms, helps explain varying levels of paranormal involvement. The paranormal is inherently deviant by this definition, as it is not fully accepted by mainstream science or religion. However, deviance is not synonymous with being bad or mentally ill; it simply means being outside the norm.

Stakes in conformity. Travis Hirschi's social control theory suggests that individuals with higher "stakes in conformity" are less likely to engage in deviant behavior because they have more to lose (relationships, status, investments). This concept helps distinguish between paranormal particularists (believing in one or few things) and generalists (believing in many things).

• Attachment: Strong relationships (e.g., marriage) correlate with fewer paranormal beliefs/experiences.
• Belief: Conventional beliefs (e.g., political conservatism, traditional God concept) correlate with fewer paranormal beliefs/experiences.
• Commitment: Investments in conventional status (e.g., higher education, income) correlate with fewer paranormal beliefs/experiences.
• Involvement: Participation in community activities does not correlate with paranormal belief.

Particularists vs. Generalists. Individuals with high stakes in conformity (married, conservative, higher income/education, traditional religious beliefs) tend to be paranormal particularists, accepting only one or a few paranormal topics. They may actively try to normalize their specific interest (like Bigfoot hunters seeking scientific validation). Individuals with lower stakes in conformity are more likely to be paranormal generalists, open to a wider range of unconventional beliefs and experiences, often embracing their nonconformity.

Paranormal is normal. Ultimately, believing in something paranormal is statistically normal in the U.S., with over half the population holding at least one such belief. The key distinction lies in how much of the paranormal a person accepts, which is strongly predicted by their overall conventionality or stakes in conformity.

8. Religious Evil and Experiences Connect to Paranormalism

What distinguishes “religious” from “paranormal” experiences is to what source individuals attribute their otherworldly experience.

Darkness and Light. Beliefs about supernatural evil (Satan, demons, hell, Armageddon) and experiences of divine light (speaking in tongues, healing, hearing God, guardian angels) are significant aspects of American religiosity, particularly within conservative traditions. These beliefs and experiences are often intertwined, providing a framework for understanding suffering and divine intervention in the world.

• Belief in Satan/Demons: Common, especially among conservative, lower SES individuals.
• Intense Religious Experiences: Common, especially among conservative, lower SES individuals, and more frequent churchgoers.

Overlap with paranormal. These religious beliefs and experiences occupy a contested space, sometimes appearing in paranormal contexts (e.g., exorcism books in paranormal sections) and sometimes serving as bridges to paranormal belief. While intense religious experiences and belief in religious evil are strongly correlated with conservative religiosity, their relationship with paranormalism is nuanced.

Conditional correlation. Belief in supernatural religious evil and claiming intense religious experiences are not associated with higher paranormalism for those with high levels of participation in organized religion. However, for those less tied to institutional religion, these beliefs and experiences do correlate with greater paranormalism. This suggests that without the doctrinal boundaries enforced by strict religious practice, an openness to supernatural forces, whether framed as religious evil or divine intervention, can extend to paranormal phenomena.

Angels as a bridge. Belief in guardian angels is particularly widespread across religious traditions and even among the nonreligious. This belief is positively correlated with belief in various paranormal topics, suggesting that angels serve as a significant bridge concept, making it easier for people to accept other forms of supernatural or unexplained phenomena.

9. Paranormal Is Normal and Likely to Grow

Whether we like it or not, we have become and will remain a paranormal America.

Paranormal is normal. The central finding of this research is that paranormal belief and experience are not fringe phenomena but are statistically normal in the United States. Over half of Americans hold at least one paranormal belief, and a significant portion report having had paranormal experiences. This widespread acceptance means the paranormal is deeply woven into the fabric of American culture.

Future projections. Based on current demographic and religious trends, the prevalence of paranormal belief in the U.S. is likely to increase in the coming decades. While rising education and income levels (factors negatively correlated with paranormal belief) might exert downward pressure, changes in the religious landscape are expected to outweigh this effect.

• Expected increases: Non-affiliated believers, "spiritual but not religious," and lower church attendance.
• Expected decreases: Traditional Christian affiliation (as a percentage of population).

Driving forces. The rise in non-affiliated believers and those less tied to traditional religious institutions, coupled with a general openness to spirituality outside of strict doctrine, is projected to fuel an increase in paranormal beliefs. These groups are less constrained by religious orthodoxies that might discourage paranormal interests.

Enduring presence. The paranormal is not a fleeting fad but an enduring aspect of the human experience, continually reinterpreted through cultural lenses and technological advancements. Its normalization in American society means it will likely remain a significant area of interest, influencing culture, entertainment, and individual worldviews for the foreseeable future. The era of paranormal America is here to stay.

Last updated: June 1, 2025