Extraterrestrial Beliefs and Experiences: An Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action

Abstract

The authors expanded the applicability of I. Ajzen and M. Fishbein's (1980) theory of reasoned action by assessing the participants' beliefs, attitudes, and experiences related to sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and to alien abductions. The authors designed and administered a survey on UFO phenomena to 398 Canadian students. The survey contains items relating to each component of Ajzen and Fishbein's model, as well as scales that evaluate paranormal beliefs and social desirability. A majority of the sample believed in UFOs, although most had never seen one. However, only a minority believed in alien abductions--again, most without having had any reported experience. According to path analyses, UFO beliefs originated from societal forces rather than from personal experiences as the model would predict.

Alien psychology: Associations between extraterrestrial beliefs and paranormal ideation, superstitious beliefs, schizotypy, and the Big Five personality factors

“…Finally, our results showed that there was no sex difference in beliefs about extraterrestrial beliefs. Although this stands in contrast to previous work suggesting that men are more likely than women to believe that UFOs are evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life and to believe in alien visitations (Goode, 2000; Irwin, 1993; Patry & Pelletier, 2001; Rice, 2003), it is consistent with the lack of significant sex differences found in previous work using the same measure of extraterrestrial beliefs (Swami et al, 2009, in press). In contrast to previous studies (Goode, 2002; Swami et al, 2009, in press), however, our results suggest that higher education was associated with lower paranormal extraterrestrial beliefs.…”

“…Moreover, although most scientists are sceptical of claims that unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are of extraterrestrial origin, some sections of the general public consider UFOs to be evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life (e.g. Biasco & Nunn, 2000; Gallup, 1997; Irwin, 2009; Patry & Pelletier, 2001).…”

“…In terms of extraterrestrial beliefs, some early research suggested that alien contactees were more imaginative, creative, and had higher schizotypal scores, the implication being that they were more open to experience (Parnell, 1988; Parnell & Sprinkle, 1990; Patry & Pelletier, 2001). Other research has suggested that alien abductees, UFO percipients, and controls are not significantly different in levels of fantasy proneness, psychological absorption, or childhood imaginings (Spanos et al, 1993).…”

“…Perhaps the largest body of relevant research on extraterrestrial beliefs has focused on demographic antecedents of such beliefs. For example, several studies have suggested that men are more likely than women to believe that UFOs are evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life and to believe in alien visitations (Goode, 2000; Irwin, 1993; Patry & Pelletier, 2001; Rice, 2003). However, this stands in contrast to a body of work suggesting that women are more likely to hold other paranormal beliefs (Goode, 2000; Vyse, 1997; see also Voracek, 2009).…”

Modeling Influences on Impulse Purchasing Behaviors During Online Marketing Transactions

“…According to TRA, values held and opinions espoused by individuals' important referents tend to influence the behaviors of those individuals. TRA has proven useful as a means of explaining diverse decision-making situations (Patry and Pelletier 2001), such as those that will be examined in this study. A significant relationship was also observed to exist between subjective norms and behavioral intentions.…”