Part 7/11:
The Role of Beliefs and Culture
Cultural background and religious upbringing significantly influence how people interpret encounters with the unseen. Dr. Moore highlighted that in cultures like Brazil, where ancestral connections and spirits are openly embraced, people are more likely to report and accept ghost encounters as part of everyday life. Conversely, in Western societies where skepticism dominates, similar experiences may be dismissed or attributed to mental health issues.
She emphasized that these cultural narratives shape both perception and reporting. If a culture normalizes the idea of spirits visiting loved ones or ancestors watching over the living, individuals are more open to perceiving and interpreting ambiguous stimuli as ghostly encounters.