The role of Cognitive Control in Paranormal Beliefs: a study of based on Performance in Go/No-Go Task

Background and Aim: Belief in paranormal phenomena associated with various cognitive failures, including errors in probability reasoning (P Rogers, ۲۰۱۵; Paul Rogers, Fisk, & Lowrie, ۲۰۱۸). Therefore, the researchers believe that this issue has a strong tendency for people with paranormal beliefs to recognize and perceive accidental and possible (Dagnall, Denovan, Drinkwater, Parker, & Clough, ۲۰۱۷). On the other hand, some studies have reported the prevalence of intuitive thinking in paranormal beliefs (Prike et al., ۲۰۱۷). Studies have shown that analytical-rational thinking reduces somewhat the paranormal beliefs (Gervais & Norenzayan, ۲۰۱۲; Pennycook et al., ۲۰۱۲). However, the difference between analytical-rational thinking and intuitive thinking in the way of reasoning and interpretation of events is controversial (De Neys & Van Gelder, ۲۰۰۹). The main questions discussed are whether analytical-rational and intuitive processes compete for dominance over another or there is a specific mechanism for regulating these processes of reasoning and thinking. A mechanism that may be involved in the suppression of intuitive thinking in the tendency to paranormal beliefs is cognitive control (Riekki, ۲۰۱۴). Methods Ninety-two people were selected based on low, middle and high scores in the Paranormal Belief Scale (Blackmore's, ۱۹۹۴) and were classified into three groups. This produced ۳۱ Mild Paranormal Believers (۱۴ females, mean age ۲۶.۴ years), ۳۰ Severe Paranormal Believers (۱۳ females, mean age ۲۵.۳ years) and ۳۱ Skeptics (۱۶ females, mean age ۲۵.۸ years). All participants were tested on Go/No Go Task. Results: Studies have shown that Cognitive Control plays a role in human behavior. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to investigate the role of cognitive control in Paranormal Beliefs using Go/No-Go Task. Conclusion: The findings show that there is a significant difference between groups in Correct responses (p=۰.۰۱), Errors (p=۰.۰۱) and Reaction Time (p=۰.۰۱). Conclusion: This finding suggests that paranormal beliefs with cognitive control may be related.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive Control ، Paranormal Beliefs ، Intuitive thinking ، Go/No Go Task