Peculiar/Unusual Perceptions and Beliefs and Covariation Detection

The present research explored the possibility that peculiar/unusual perceptions and/or beliefs might be associated with covariation detection. One-hundred thirty-five college students completed the Perceptual Aberration and Magical Ideation scales. They also performed a task in which they were presented with unpleasant images and asked to indicate whether the image was upright or rotated; participants were told the task was examining the impact of distraction on visual processing. In fact, loud noises were paired disproportionately with images of automobile accidents. After completing the task, participants were asked to identify the type of image that had been paired disproportionately with the loud noises. Participants who successfully detected the covariation had significantly higher Perceptual Aberration scale scores than did participants who did not detect the covariation.