Paranormal experiences and mental health: Schizotypy as an underlying factor

Previous research suggests that schizotypy mediates a relationship between paranormal experiences and emotional well-being. We hypothesised therefore that scores on positive schizotypy, negative schizotypy, and cognitive disorganisation might differentially predict participants’ subjective evaluation of their paranormal experiences as pleasant or distressing. Sixty participants were self-selected from the internet and completed the O-LIFE questionnaire (Mason, Claridge, & Jackson, 1995) and a measure of subjective evaluation of paranormal experiences (the SEPE). Cognitive disorganisation was found to moderate the association between schizotypy and subjective quality of paranormal experience, with highly cognitive disorganised participants showing a negative schizotypy/distressing experiences relationship, while cognitively organised participants showed a positive schizotypy/pleasant experiences relationship. These results were interpreted in terms of the protective mechanism of having a framework of belief in which to place paranormal experiences, a mechanism more available to cognitively organised individuals.