Increase in Reported Anxiety and Anomalous Experiences in Paranormal Believers Following Ouija Board Play

Abstract

Este estudio examina la relación entre la alta sensibilidad (HSP) y las experiencias anómalas (APP) dentro del marco del Modelo de Continuo de Psicosis (PCM). Participaron 1.215 adultos en España. A través del modelo teórico ITSTAE (Integrated Temperamental-Sensitivity Theory of Anomalous Experience), se analizó cómo el temperamento, la sensibilidad y los rasgos psicóticos interactúan en la aparición de percepciones anómalas. Los resultados muestran que los rasgos HSP, lejos de aumentar las experiencias anómalas, las reducen cuando se consideran dentro del PCM. La sensibilidad actúa como un factor protector frente a síntomas psicóticos positivos, reinterpretándose como un recurso de complejidad psicológica más que de vulnerabilidad. El modelo explicó hasta un 61,4% de la varianza en APP, validando estadísticamente la propuesta ITSTAE y ofreciendo una nueva visión no patológica de la percepción alterada.

Paranormal games are used as oracles by some people for entertainment, with the Ouija board being the most classic example. There is scant information in scientific literature regarding the psychological effects and risks associated with these types of activities. Although the Ouija is legally sold as a children’s game, its potential health impacts need to be scientifically assessed and evidence-based. In this study, we examine the psychological effects and risks linked to using the Ouija board. A quasi-experimental design was carried out. Twenty-one Ouija sessions were performed with four participants in each trial. In total, 84 subjects took part. Pretest and posttest measures of anxiety levels, altered states of consciousness (ASC), and perceptual disturbances were evaluated. The variable “beliefs in the paranormal” was added as an interaction factor. Believers demonstrated higher average scores than nonbelievers on all posttest measurements. Analysis of the interaction between simple effects revealed that believers’ anxiety levels increased by 25.5% for paranormal believers (vs. nonbelievers). Believers also experienced heightened ASC and anomalous experiences. It is important to highlight the possible influence of the environment on believing participants. Certain environmental characteristics could have generated increases in the levels of anxiety and suggestibility. These influences should be controlled in future research. Overall, this study found that participants who believe in the paranormal (vs. nonbelievers) are more likely to perceive symptoms of anxiety, ASC, and anomalous experiences as a result of playing Ouija