Phenomenology of Black Magic Beliefs in India: An Exploration of Perceived Psychological, Social, and Somatic Effects
Vishesh Srivastava
International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research August 23, 2026 DOI: 10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i04.86401 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Proposes that a structured qualitative framework can document anomalous experiences related to black magic and spirit influence without endorsing or rejecting supernatural explanations, thereby integrating perspectives from consciousness studies, psychology, and anthropology. |
Abstract
Beliefs surrounding black magic, spirit influence, and ritual harm have long been interwoven into India's cultural and spiritual fabric, significantly shaping personal behavior, social relationships, and health-seeking pathways. Despite their prevalence, discourse in this domain remains sharply divided between traditional acceptance and empirical dismissal, leaving the subjective, lived reality of these phenomena largely unaddressed within academic literature. This paper addresses that gap by presenting a structured qualitative framework to document anomalous experiences without seeking to validate or invalidate supernatural claims, thereby bridging consciousness studies, psychology, and anthropology
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