Publisher's Synopsis
Why is belief in the paranormal still one of the few universal elements of human culture? What are the psychological origins of such beliefs? Do they have implications for the future of humankind?;Using a new conception of the "paranormal", the author discusses a range of psychological issues which had previously appeared to be unconnected with the paranormal, such as suggestibility, and various kinds of "mental disorder" like paranoia and anorexia nervosa. Schumaker's final analysis that paranormal beliefs are associated with intolerance, destructiveness and cruelty gives rise to serious questions about the compatibility of such beliefs and the future of humanity.
