Chinese and American Anomalous Experiences: The Role of Religiosity

Random samples of dormitory residents at three colleges in Xían, People's Republic of China (N = 314), and at the University of Maryland (N = 214), were polled regarding frequency of déjà vu, night paralysis, extrasensory perception (ESP), contact with the dead, out-of-body experiences, and belief in ESP. American respondents were also requested to evaluate their self-perceived religiosity and religious affiliation. Chinese students, who have received no formal religious socialization, reported higher levels of anomalous experience (except for déjà vu), and greater belief in ESP, than did Americans. Frequency of American reports of anomalous experience and belief in ESP did not correlate significantly with self-evaluated religiosity or religious affiliation. The data tend to support the “experiential source” hypothesis, which suggests that elements within these experiences occur independently of culture.