Developmental Changes in the Use of Supernatural Explanations for Unusual Events among Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The focus of this research is to explore the development of supernatural explanations for unusual events in children and adolescents aged (7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19) years. And if there are differences between males and females in the use of supernatural explanations for unusual events. To achieve the objectives of the current research, and after reviewing the literature and previous studies, the researchers adopted a tool (Pipton and Saffioti, 1997), Ninety children aged 7,9 and 11 a long with 120 adolescents, were presented with scenarios describing unusual or unexpected events. They were first asked to provide explanations for why they believed the events occurred, and then they were asked to rate different supernatural explanations (moral justice, God, and luck). Regarding each scenario. The results indicated that paranormal explanations begin at the age of 11 years, and there is an effect of age on the development of the use of paranormal explanations for unusual events, meaning that the use of paranormal explanations takes a developmental path and increases with age. The results also indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the use of paranormal explanations for unusual events according to the gender variable. The findings are discussed in terms of how children and adults acquire the interpretive systems of their culture.