Research conducted in various countries, including the US and UK, shows that a significant portion of the population tends to believe in paranormal phenomena such as ghosts.

For example, a 2019 YouGov poll found that 45% of Americans are such believers. Similar results have been found in other countries, as shown by a 2016 survey in the UK, which found that residents were more likely to believe in the existence of spirits than in a divine being.

Professor Richard Wiseman from the University of Hertfordshire suggests two main reasons for this phenomenon.

First, personal experience plays a key role. Many people report encounters with the paranormal, especially after the loss of a loved one. In addition, media such as books, movies and television shows actively shape perceptions of the paranormal, Ferra reports.

Secondly, the psychological characteristics of the individual play a role. People with creative thinking and open minds often strive for a vision of a world where there is no suffering and deceased loved ones remain nearby. They also often search for patterns and meanings in the world around them, which can lead to interpreting strange events as paranormal.

A 2013 study at the University of British Columbia found that those who tend to attribute human characteristics to non-human objects (anthropomorphization) are more likely to believe in ghosts. These people have a certain psychological structure, which is characterized by openness, creativity and the ability to empathize, which allows them to easily get used to various situations.

Suggestion also plays an important role. As part of the experiments, it was shown that people who were informed about the presence of ghosts in a certain place could begin to experience corresponding sensations. This has to do with our ability to take ideas that seem unrealistic and use them to create something new and amazing, such as space travel or developing vaccines.