A sociological perspective on paranormal beliefs

Paranormal beliefs are forms of belief that cannot be explained by reason and science and that contain elements expressed as surreal or unusual. The fact that paranormal beliefs are individual-based beliefs shows its religious and psychological aspect. The fact that it determines human relations with its effect on individual behaviors in social life and that it has existed in different forms from past to present makes these beliefs an important research topic from a sociological perspective. In this study, the reality of paranormal beliefs as a social phenomenon constructed in social life and the social reasons for their power and continuity to influence societies are examined in the light of some sociological theories and through examples of paranormal phenomena. In this study, which is designed as a qualitative research, it is aimed to make a conceptual contribution to the sociology literature in order to make sense of the social processes that paranormal beliefs, which have a social reality, have undergone yesterday and today within the framework of theories and to predict the future with the phenomenological research method. The purpose of analyzing paranormal beliefs sociologically is to determine the reasons for their change, transformation and continuity in social life, to determine how their forms are formed in all areas where they exist, from historical events and phenomena to cultural traditional structures, and how they affect societies. It is seen that the existence of paranormal beliefs, which are fed by religion as a form of belief but appeal to large masses as a different form, has been rapidly transformed within secular culture and with the influence of the technology brought by the modern world. This situation shows that the reality that paranormal beliefs construct in society also goes through a social process. Explaining paranormal beliefs sociologically and making them the subject of scientific research is of great importance due to their undeniable power to influence the masses openly or secretly. The research consists of an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. In the introduction, the subject, purpose, importance and methodology of the research are mentioned. In the first chapter, the conceptual definition of paranormal beliefs, what paranormal beliefs include, the phenomena considered as paranormal beliefs, the relationship between paranormal beliefs and religion, science and parapsychology are discussed. In the second part, paranormal beliefs are interpreted within the framework of social construction of reality theory, modernization theory, secularization theory, deprivation and phenomenology theories. In the third section, the theories are interpreted by exemplifying some paranormal phenomena such as astrology, fortune-telling, divination, folk beliefs, myths, ufology, astral travel, magic, sorcery, supernatural powers, dreams and telekinesis. In the fourth part, the subject is discussed in the light of socio-cultural factors that prepare the place of paranormal beliefs in society such as family, culture, circle of friends, mass communication factor, meaninglessness, insecurity, risk factor and new religious movements. In the conclusion, an evaluation of the information obtained as a result of our research has been made. The conclusion of this study is that paranormal beliefs have a changing structure within society. Within the scope of our main problem, it is seen that paranormal belief as a social phenomenon has a social reality. The continuity of this reality is ensured by some social reasons. Even in the environments created by modernity and secularism, they have continued to construct realities again and again with changing perceptions. Society also continues to transmit these realities to future generations in cultural forms of meaning.