Do you Believe in Ghosts? Your Personality Might Have Something to Do with It

When something goes bump in the night, do you presume it’s a fiendish ghoul from beyond the grave or simply a creaky floorboard?

If you think there’s more to this world than meets the eye, you’re not alone. In fact, almost one in four Americans believe in the existence of ghosts according to the latest statistics. But that means three-quarters of the population do not believe in the paranormal and will always look for the logical explanation when grappling with the unknown.

So, what determines our tendency to believe in ghosts? Is it just a matter of personal beliefs or is there something deeper at play?

A Tale as Old as Spirits

 “Belief in ghosts, spirits and supernatural beings has been a part of human consciousness since the dawn of religion and society,” says Matthew Bartels, Tour Guide at US Ghost Adventures. He explains that, collectively, we have always looked for meaning far beyond our understanding of the mortal realms. However, there are certain periods in history when believing in ghosts took on—ahem—a life of its own.

 “During the late Victorian era, when industrialization, colonization, and an increased population led to harsh realities and a more face-to-face experience with death, stories about spirits seemed to escalate. Many turned to spiritualism, a lifestyle that centered on seances, mediums and communication with the dead. This obsession continued well into the 20th century as World War I and the Spanish Influenza ravaged the world,” Bartels explains. 

But believing in ghosts isn’t some relic from eras past. If we look to the modern world, there have been frequent peaks in interest over the years. These surges follow a distinct pattern: whenever society faces challenges, from war and conflict to pandemics,  it appears that many of us turn to a belief in supernatural forces.

 “Interest in ghosts and ghost hunting began to increase in the early 2000s and became popular as COVID-19 and technology changed our lives,” Bartels says. “Now, there is a smattering of YouTube channels, podcasts and social media pages dedicated to the topic. It seems it is in our nature as human beings to turn to the spirit world to cope with unknown phenomena around us, whether that be death itself, the changing of the seasons, or plague. We look inward to understand our external surroundings.” 

But is the rise in supernatural interest purely a response to challenging times or is there something more intrinsic at play?

Believing in the Unknown: Do Personality Traits Play a Role?

While external factors from pandemics to ghost-hunting TV shows may influence our beliefs in the supernatural, some experts suggest that our personality traits and psychological makeup can also play a significant role. 

“I would say those who are more open-minded, intuitive and empathetic are more likely to believe in ghosts,” says Carolina Estevez, Psy.D., a Licensed Psychologist at Crestone Wellness. In the 16-type system created by Myers and Briggs, “some personality types that may fall under this category could be INFP, INFJ, ENFP and ENFJ,” she says.  

Having an open-minded approach to all aspects of life may mean that you believe in the supernatural as a valid possibility. It could also account for people who ‘don’t know’ if they believe or not. As Estevez explains, the core traits that people have may determine whether they are open to the idea of ghosts, without needing any concrete evidence to back up the claims, rather than having an absolute belief or disbelief.

“These individuals tend to be highly imaginative and sensitive to energy and emotions, making them more receptive to the idea of supernatural beings,” she says. “Their minds are usually open to different possibilities, which could mean being more open to the existence of ghosts.”

So what about the people who are staunchly against believing in ghosts? The ones who scoff at the very mention of anything otherworldly and instead rely on science to explain the unexplainable?

Estevez says that those who are skeptical and rely heavily on logic and facts may be less likely to believe in ghosts. “They may dismiss any ghostly occurrences as simply tricks of the mind or coincidences. They love to question and analyze everything, which can lead to a more rational explanation for something that may seem supernatural to others. Some personality types that may lean towards this perspective could be INTJ, ISTJ, ESTJ and ENTJ.”

Paranormal Beliefs and Thinking Styles

Put simply, if you have a wholly analytical mindset, believing in ghosts can be a difficult obstacle. Unless you've seen irrefutable evidence—or had personal experiences—that the supernatural does, in fact, exist, it is unlikely that you will come around to the idea. Individuals who fall into these categories are predisposed to look for rational reasoning beyond even the most surprising of incidents. Even a giant Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man could be explained away as a hallucination or something seen on TV.

A couple of studies have made a link between a person's cognitive style—the way they think, perceive and remember information—and their belief in the paranormal. One study noted that two people who shared the same “cognitive ability, education, political ideology, sex, age and level of religious engagement” can have radically different views on the paranormal when they possess different thinking styles.

The study found that analytical thinkers who take a reasoning-based approach to problem solving are unlikely to believe in ghosts. These individuals are likely to look for solid facts and evidence, rather than jumping to conclusions or filling in the gaps.

Another study  showed that people who have a more intuitive cognitive style are more likely to believe in the mystical. These individuals tend to allow their emotions to be at the forefront of their reasoning, and process information through feelings and hunches rather than solely relying on logical reasoning. The study's researchers also found that believers were prone to jumping to conclusions, interpreting strange events as purposeful and deliberate, and thinking about scenarios from the perspective of the worst possible outcome.

Bottom line?  Whether or not you believe in ghosts is a deeply personal experience. While your personality and thinking style may play a role in whether you are open to the idea, there are many other things to consider, including what you have been exposed to, your personal experiences, and simply how popular the idea is in your culture. As Estevez says, “ultimately, belief in ghosts boils down to personal experiences, beliefs and cultural upbringing. Some people may believe in them wholeheartedly, while others may not at all—and that's okay."

 “We never truly know what lies beyond our physical world, maybe there is more to it than what we can see or explain. The important thing is to respect and be open to different perspectives and beliefs, regardless of our own personal beliefs.”