Is there a Correlation between the Degree of Superstitious Beliefs and the Sense of Personal Free will in Individuals

Abstract

This study delves into the intricate relationship between superstitious beliefs and an individual’s sense of personal free will. Drawing upon a diverse sample of 289 participants aged 18-30, we aim to unravel the nuanced connections between these seemingly disparate psychological constructs. Our methodology involves employing well-established measurement tools and surveys to assess the degree of superstitious belief, specifically using the Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (Tobacyk, 2004), and the perception of personal free will, measured with the FAD-Plus scale (Paulhus & Carey, 2010). The Spearman’s rank-order correlation analysis indicates a negligible negative relationship between superstitious beliefs and personal free will (correlation coefficient -0.046, p = 0.437). While this result did not reach the conventional threshold for statistical significance (p < 0.05), it provides insights into the complex interplay between cognitive processes and supernatural convictions. These findings contribute to a more holistic understanding of human psychology, shedding light on the delicate balance between rationality and irrationality in human cognition.