Are there ‘positive’ effects of paranormal experiences?

By Stephen Beech

More than half of people who have a paranormal experience say it had "positive" long-term effects.

But one in four who go through something extraordinary — such as an out-of-body experience or seeing a ghost — report immediate discomfort, according to a new study.

Researchers in Brazil analyzed the impact of non-ordinary events — such as unlikely coincidences, near-death experiences and extrasensory perception (ESP) — on people who live through them.

They found that such experiences are "far more common" than they expected.

Study leader Ronald Fischer said: "Non-ordinary events can be interpreted in myriad ways.

"Perhaps 'Person A' finds religion in a near-death experience, while 'Person B' dismisses the occurrence as random chance.

"In some cultures, non-ordinary experiences — like hearing voices — are perceived as supernatural; in others, as a symptom of psychosis.

"Whether non-ordinary experiences are framed as religious, spiritual, paranormal or pathological, those affected may flourish or languish in the aftermath.

"This study explored how individuals interpret non-ordinary experiences, and which appraisals are associated with the best outcomes."

Fischer and his colleagues first validated the "Inventory of Non-ordinary Experiences" which assesses the universal, cultural and religious dimensions of non-ordinary experiences.

The researchers asked 160 Brazilian adults to rate the understandability of each query, noting issues such as vague language or missing response options.

Participants evaluated the assessment's 38 core questions alongside nine new additions, all of which were modified until an understanding rate of at least 80% was achieved.

The researchers administered all 47 validated questions to 5,117 people representing the general population.

Responses suggest that non-ordinary experiences are generally interpreted within the same set of beliefs.

The research team found that one in five respondents (20%) reported a negative impact from their non-ordinary experience, while one in four 25% reported suffering or discomfort.

But just over half of the participants (51%) said their non-ordinary experience promoted positive long-term effects, according to the findings published in the journal PLOS One.

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More than a third (39%) were alone during their experience, while 57% reported being awake and alert.

Most participants felt they had some degree of control over their experience.

Fischer, from the Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino, Sao Paulo, says the results highlight the "complexities" inherent in processing non-ordinary experiences.

But the research team hopes the data can be used to promote well-being and mental health.

Fischer said: "Experiences like sensing a presence, having a vision, or feeling as though you are observing yourself from outside your own body are far more common in the general population than clinical diagnosis rates would suggest.

"We observed that most people in our sample of over 5,000 participants who report them are not unwell, and most describe them as neutral or positive — both at the time they occur and also when looking back and reflecting on that experience.

"Previous research has often failed to differentiate the experience and how people make sense of such diverse and challenging experiences.

"Our work stands out in that we squarely focus on where and when these experiences happened and how people tried to make sense of them.

"By clearly separating the context, the experience and the meaning-making processes, the patterns we observe challenge various assumptions that have guided previous theory, research but also clinical practice."

He added: "For many people such experiences can be meaningful and lead to personal growth and insight.

"Highlighting these possible positive outcomes is important to help people make sense of them and help to normalize them.

"Importantly, we hope our work can help to remove stigma by focusing on the diverse ways that people experience and make sense of them.

"However, we would also stress that if people feel that these experiences interfere with their daily activities, then they should talk to a professional or seek help from somebody that they trust."

Research assistant Pedro Fortes said: "What struck us was the mismatch.

"These experiences share features with symptoms used to define psychosis and dissociation yet are frequently observed in a general-population sample.

"Our prevalence study suggests they most often arrive in entirely ordinary moments, when we're awake, alert and by ourselves, and are commonly remembered as meaningful rather than frightening."

Study co-author Dr. Jorge Moll added: "Our findings suggest that how a person interprets an unusual experience matters more than the experience itself in determining whether it becomes a source of distress or of meaning.

"That has direct consequences for how clinicians and families respond when someone describes something extraordinary."