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Paranormal believers are more prone to illusory agency detection than skeptics
- Type
- Study
- By
- Michiel van Elk
- Journal
- Consciousness and Cognition
- Source
- Consciousness and Cognition
- Published
- 2013
Shows that believers are more likely to see intention and agency in random movement — the "something is behind this" feeling that powers synchronicity.
Michiel van Elk's 2013 experiment, published in Consciousness and Cognition, asked whether paranormal believers are more prone to seeing intention in random movement — the "something is behind this" feeling that powers so many coincidences. The answer was yes.
The study isolates a specific cognitive habit: over-detecting agency. It is the difference between seeing a sequence of events and seeing someone arranging them. For skeptics, this is the mechanism that turns coincidence into a message; for believers, it is proof that the perception is real even if the agent is in doubt.
The meaning
Again, the effect is real: believers are not making it up, they are perceiving agency that skeptics do not.
The skeptic
The study identifies the exact cognitive habit — over-detecting agency — that turns coincidence into a message from someone.
About the research
Cognitive psychologist at the University of Amsterdam studying the psychology of religion and belief.
Key takeaways
- Believers over-detect agency in random movement more than skeptics.
- Identifies a mechanism behind "this can't be coincidence."
- Published in Consciousness and Cognition, 2013.