Paranormal beliefs in young Salvadoran adults: sociodemographic links, socialization agents and perception of anomie

Paranormal beliefs in young Salvadoran adults: sociodemographic links, socialization agents and perception of anomie

Authors

  • Carlos Iván Orellana Universidad Don Bosco, Dirección de Postgrado en Ciencias Sociales, Campus Antiguo Cuscatlán, Final Av. Albert Einstein, No. 233, Colonia Jardines de Guadalupe, La Libertad, El Salvador https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4936-867X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v14i2.4245

Keywords:

Anomie, Fear of Crime, Control, Socialization, El Salvador

Abstract

“Paranormal beliefs in young Salvadoran adults: sociodemographic links, socialization agents and perception of anomie” Introduction: Paranormal beliefs are beliefs that are not scientifically accepted. These beliefs, that may constitute tools for personal control and uncertainty reduction, do not seem to have been studied in Central America. Objective: To explore paranormal beliefs in a sample of Salvadoran adults. Methods: 510 participants filled out a survey that included different measurement scales: Paranormal Beliefs, Perception of Anomie, Fear of Crime and Socialization Agents. The Paranormal Belief Scale is made up of three factors: witchcraft, psi-superstition and strange life forms. Results: The most accepted belief was witchcraft. Women, evangelical Christians, and individuals from low-income families, were more accepting of paranormal beliefs, and these correlate with the perception of anomie and fear of crime. Conclusion: Paranormal beliefs in this sample vary individually, reflect social conditions, and are linked to perceptions of threat and uncertainty.

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Published

2022-10-11

How to Cite

Orellana, C. I. (2022). Paranormal beliefs in young Salvadoran adults: sociodemographic links, socialization agents and perception of anomie. UNED Research Journal, 14(2), e4245. https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v14i2.4245

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