Magical thinking in normal and pathological conditions: literature review

Abstract

The scientific literature analysis on a magical thinking problem was conducted. A review of studies in a historical perspective on this problem was given (English anthropological and French sociological schools, psychoanalysis views), various descriptions of magical thinking structure and possible causes of its development were discussed. A brief review of experimental studies of magical thinking of people without mental pathology is described as well as a specificity of magical thinking in childrens mind. The study of magical thinking in various mental pathologies is considered as one of the forms of psychosis-like experiences, as well as the phenomenon of thought action fusion.