The Relationship Between Magical Thinking, Inferential Confusion and Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms

Abstract

Inferential confusion is an under-researched faulty reasoning process in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Based on an overreliance on imagined possibilities, it shares similarities with the extensively researched construct of thought-action fusion (TAF). While TAF has been proposed as a specific subset of the broader construct of magical thinking, the relationship between inferential confusion and magical thinking is unexplored. The present study investigated this relationship, and hypothesised that magical thinking would partially mediate the relationship between inferential confusion and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. A non-clinical sample of 201 participants (M = 34.94, SD = 15.88) were recruited via convenience sampling. Regression analyses found the hypothesised mediating relationship was supported, as magical thinking did partially mediate the relationship between inferential confusion and OC symptoms. Interestingly, inferential confusion had the stronger relationship with OC symptoms in comparison to the other predictor variables. Results suggest that inferential confusion can both directly and indirectly (via magical thinking) impact on OC symptoms. Future studies with clinical samples should further investigate these constructs to determine whether similar patterns emerge, as this may eventually inform which cognitive errors to target in treatment of OCD.

Relationship between Dissociative Experiences and Schizotypal Personality Traits: Mediating Role of Inferential Confusion

“…The results of this study, in line with previous studies ( 9 , 44 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 65 ), showed a relationship between schizotypal personality traits and inferential confusion. It seems similar fundamental thought processes are involved in both which stem from magical thinking ( 65 ).…”

“…The results of this study, in line with previous studies ( 9 , 44 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 65 ), showed a relationship between schizotypal personality traits and inferential confusion. It seems similar fundamental thought processes are involved in both which stem from magical thinking ( 65 ). Magical thinking is one of the dimensions of schizotypy and a kind of cognitive bias in which events are attributed to causes that are not really related to the event ( 66 ).…”

Assigning the right credit to the wrong action: compulsivity in the general population is associated with augmented outcome-irrelevant value-based learning

“…These behaviors are seen in more than one-quarter of the general population [ 2 , 3 ]. By definition, there is no causal relationship between compulsive behaviors and the likelihood of the event they aim to influence [ 4 , 5 ]. Furthermore, in many instances, individuals have explicit knowledge that their compulsive actions are causally irrelevant [ 1 ].…”

Paranormales Erleben und psychische Störungen

“…Die Literaturlage ist diesbezüglich irreführend, da in vielen der veröffentlichten Studien zum Zusammenhang von magischem Denken und Zwangsstörung keine erkrankten Patienten untersucht wurden, sondern nicht-klinische Populationen wie z. B. eine Vielzahl von Studenten, die koexistent Zwangssymptome und magisches Denken im Sinne von TAF aufwiesen 38 39 . Die Schlussfolgerung der Autoren bezüglich eines nahen sich gegenseitig beeinflussenden Zusammenhangs zwischen Zwangssymptomen (Gedanken wie auch ritualisierte Handlungen) und magisches Denken ist zwar naheliegend, allerdings auch wenig richtungsweisend, zumal beide Merkmale unspezifisch und ubiquitär vorkommen.…”

“…Pfeifer [36] [38,39]. Die Schlussfolgerung der Autoren bezüglich eines nahen sich gegenseitig beeinflussenden Zusammenhangs zwischen Zwangssymptomen (Gedanken wie auch ritualisierte Handlungen) und magisches Denken ist zwar naheliegend, allerdings auch wenig richtungsweisend, zumal beide Merkmale unspezifisch und ubiquitär vorkommen.…”