Comparisons of Paranormal Beliefs of Black and White University Students from the Southern United States

Abstract

Paranormal beliefs of 250 black and 208 white university students from the Southern United States were compared on the Paranormal Belief Scale. This sample of black students reported significantly greater belief than the sample of white students in Superstition, Witchcraft, Spiritualism, and Precognition. The white students showed significantly greater Traditional Religious Belief and belief in Extraordinary Life Forms. However, notwithstanding these significant group differences, both groups similarly reported “belief” in Traditional Religious Belief and in Precognition, while reporting “disbelief” in Psi, Witchcraft, Superstition, Spiritualism, and Extraordinary Life Forms.