Editorial: Emerging research: self-ascribed parapsychological abilities

Abstract

Since paranormal beliefs provide insights into cognitive biases, personality traits, and existential concerns, they have long been a subject of psychological research. Studies have demonstrated that such beliefs are associated with intuitive thinking, reduced analytical reasoning, and susceptibility to cognitive illusions (Lindeman & Aarnio, 2007). Additionally, researchers report correlations between paranormal beliefs and schizotypal personality traits, suggesting that these convictions stem, at least in part, from cognitive-perceptual tendencies that shape individual interpretations of reality (Dagnall et al., 2010;Drinkwater, Dagnall, & Bate, 2021). Beyond cognitive factors, theorists link paranormal beliefs to emotional and existential dimensions, functioning as coping mechanisms for uncertainty and mortality-related anxieties (Dagnall et al., 2025;Lange & Houran, 1999).Embedded within these broader belief systems is the notion of paranormal abilities (i.e., extraordinary capacities such as mind-to-mind communication, anomalous perception of distant events, and the power to influence physical matter). Historically, these capabilities have been the focus of parapsychology, which has examined their existence and potential mechanisms (Williams & Irwin, 1991). However, contemporary research has shifted focus from proving or disproving paranormal abilities to understanding their psychological underpinnings (Roxburgh et al., 2024). Scholars now explore the cognitive, affective, and cultural factors that shape the subjective experience of paranormal phenomena and consider their impact on sense of self and agency (Simmonds-Moore, 2024).A key development in this respect is the study of self-ascribed paranormal abilities (i.e., claims by individuals who personally possess such extraordinary capabilities). Unlike paranormal beliefs, which people hold abstractly or vicariously, self-ascribed abilities are rooted in direct personal experience and are typically integrated within identity and worldview (Drinkwater et al., 2022). Research suggests that individuals who self-ascribe paranormal abilities exhibit heightened cognitive-perceptual tendencies, such as anomalous perception and absorption, which contribute to their conviction in experiences (Goulding, 2005;Krippner & Friedman, 2010). Moreover, social and cultural factors shape these self-attributions, with media representations and personal narratives reinforcing belief structures (Simmonds-Moore, 2016). Despite increasing methodological rigor in this field, further research is necessary to disentangle the cognitive and emotional processes underlying self-ascribed paranormal abilities. By