Anomalistic psychology

Anomalistic psychology is the study of why people often believe in and experience phenomena that seem to defy scientific explanation, such as ghosts, UFOs, or psychic powers. It explores the psychological factors—like cognitive biases, perception errors, and emotional influences—that lead individuals to interpret ambiguous stimuli or events as supernatural or extraordinary. By understanding these mental processes, anomalistic psychology aims to explain these experiences without dismissing personal beliefs, helping us see how the mind constructs perceptions and beliefs around unexplained phenomena.