I'd be interested in seeing if the psychic business is booming also. Probably need to find some recent (and good) survey work. Most researchers exploring supernatural belief---given the support for the role of uncertainty, would probably predict an increase in such areas. Perhaps President Obama should establish a faith-based initiative to be inclusive of all types of psychic counselors in these trying times. ;-) Sadly, I have relatives who are burying statues in the ground to promote selling their houses, so consulting psychics doesn't seem farfetched. Gary
Gerald L. (Gary) Peterson, Ph.D. Professor, Psychology Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI 48710 989-964-4491 [email protected] >>> "Christopher D. Green" <[email protected]> 2/7/2009 2:01 pm >>> When there's not enough money for rent and food, what do people spend their money on? Psychics, apparently. I would think that even people who normally go in for this kind of stuff would regard it as an amusing luxury; one of the first things to be cut when times get tough. But I am wrong because, as is my wont, I reflexively assume that most people are minimally rational (despite the massive number of times I have been shown otherwise by both research and everyday experience). So what is the psychological explanation for this? That when hard time are upon us people feel more desperate than ever for an extra little "edge," and they think that psychics might provide it? http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/02/05/psychics.economy/index.html Then again, perhaps the whole article is junk. This is just one psychic who just happens to say, in the midst of a rare and enormous promotional opportunity (being intereviewed by CNN), that business is better than ever before and that even people in business suits have begun to come 'round. I only hope this is the case. Chris -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 [email protected] http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ========================== --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
