{"title":"The politics of the paranormal: the relationship between paranormal beliefs and right-wing ideology.","authors":"Alexander Jedinger, Pascal Siegers","doi":"10.1080/00224545.2026.2632337","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the relationship between paranormal beliefs and right-wing ideology in a German quota sample (<i>N</i> = 1,139). We also explored whether individual differences in intuitive versus analytical cognitive styles explain these relationships. Results indicated that higher scores on right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and social dominance orientation (SDO), but not right-wing identity, were positively associated with paranormal beliefs. However, both right-wing ideology and intuitive versus analytical thinking independently contributed to paranormal belief endorsement. The results suggest that right-wing ideology plays an important role in understanding paranormal beliefs. While cognitive styles are also relevant, they do not explain the affinity of right-wing individuals for paranormal phenomena.</p>","PeriodicalId":48205,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Social Psychology","volume":" ","pages":"846-861"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Social Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2026.2632337","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/2/21 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between paranormal beliefs and right-wing ideology in a German quota sample (N = 1,139). We also explored whether individual differences in intuitive versus analytical cognitive styles explain these relationships. Results indicated that higher scores on right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and social dominance orientation (SDO), but not right-wing identity, were positively associated with paranormal beliefs. However, both right-wing ideology and intuitive versus analytical thinking independently contributed to paranormal belief endorsement. The results suggest that right-wing ideology plays an important role in understanding paranormal beliefs. While cognitive styles are also relevant, they do not explain the affinity of right-wing individuals for paranormal phenomena.
期刊介绍:
Since John Dewey and Carl Murchison founded it in 1929, The Journal of Social Psychology has published original empirical research in all areas of basic and applied social psychology. Most articles report laboratory or field research in core areas of social and organizational psychology including the self, attribution theory, attitudes, social influence, consumer behavior, decision making, groups and teams, sterotypes and discrimination, interpersonal attraction, prosocial behavior, aggression, organizational behavior, leadership, and cross-cultural studies. Academic experts review all articles to ensure that they meet high standards.