Superstitiousness and paranormal beliefs of the Russian and tatar students

Abstract

© 2017 Serials Publications. The sociological studies carried out during the recent decade show that the large part the population in Russia (various demographical groups) believe in the paranormal, observe different rituals, turn to wizards, fortune-tellers, healers and psychic mediums for help. This phenomenon is also spread enough among university students. Superstitiousness and beliefs in the paranormal among young people is a point of special research interest. Besides in the multi-cultural contexts it is reasonably important to see the ethnic specifics of superstitions and beliefs. The research methodology if the study consists of the "Paranormal Belief Scale", the "Superstitiousness Inventory", the "World Assumptions Scale", and the "Ways of Coping Questionnaire". The findings show that the students from the Tatar ethnic group trend to be more subject to the traditional religious formulas (Islam) about the existence of God, Paradise and Hell, devil and others than the Russian ethnic group. Tatar students demonstrate direct correlation between traditional religious beliefs as well as beliefs in communication with spirits, magic and fortune-telling and positive reappraisal as a way of stress coping. The more the belief in magic, transmigration of souls and fortune telling is in the Tatar sample, the more convinced they are in their personal good luck. In the Russian sample the faith in justice of the world is directly related to the traditional religion (Orthodox Christianity), as well as with the beliefs in magic and fortune telling. The students from the Russian ethnic sample with the expressed faith in the paranormal phenomena show escape-avoidance coping strategy.