Dr Ciaran O’Keeffe on the psychology of fear

As Halloween approaches, new research reveals the UK’s obsession with the supernatural remains alive and well but few understand where those fears come from.

According to a new study by Papa Johns, two-thirds of Brits (66%) link Halloween to the paranormal, yet nearly four in five (79%) admit they have no idea where the tradition originates. For many, the night of ghosts and ghouls has become more about pop culture than paganism with younger generations especially likely to see it as “an American holiday.”

Despite this, ancient superstition endures. Half of adults say they still use “protective rituals” during spooky season – from reciting chants (61%) and carrying charms (57%) to trusting in garlic’s scent (51%) to keep dark forces away. One in six (16%) even believe vampires are real.

Aston spoke to parapsychologist Dr Ciarán O’Keeffe.

Photo by David Menidrey on Unsplash