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Associations between sleep variables and ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs: A scoping review |
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| Authors: | Betul Rauf Rotem Perach Juan J Madrid-Valero Dan Denis Brian A Sharpless Hope Farron Christopher C French Alice M Gregory |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK;2. Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK
School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK Contribution: Methodology, Resources, Supervision, Writing - review & editing;3. Department of Health Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain Contribution: Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing - review & editing;4. Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK Contribution: Writing - review & editing;5. Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA Contribution: Writing - review & editing;6. Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK Contribution: Formal analysis, Investigation;7. Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK Contribution: Conceptualization, Resources, Supervision, Writing - review & editing |
| Abstract: | Night-time is a period of great significance for many people who report paranormal experiences. However, there is limited understanding of the associations between sleep variables and seemingly paranormal experiences and/or beliefs. The aim of this review is to improve our understanding of these associations while unifying a currently fragmented literature-base into a structured, practical review. In this pre-registered scoping review, we searched for relevant studies in MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO (EBSCO), Web of Science and EMBASE using terms related to sleep and ostensibly paranormal experiences and beliefs. Forty-four studies met all inclusion criteria. All were cross-sectional and most investigated sleep paralysis and/or lucid dreaming in relation to ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs. Overall, there were positive associations between many sleep variables (including sleep paralysis, lucid dreams, nightmares, and hypnagogic hallucinations) and ostensibly paranormal experiences and paranormal beliefs (including those of ghosts, spirits, and near-death experiences). The findings of this review have potential clinical implications such as reducing misdiagnosis and treatment development and provide foundations for further research. Our findings also highlight the importance of understanding why so many people report ‘things that go bump in the night’. |
| Keywords: | anomalous lucid dreaming parasomnias sleep disturbance sleep paralysis supernatural |