Students’ belief in superstitions during the coronavirus pandemic
The study discusses the locus of control and belief in superstitions among students and graduates. These psychological characteristics are seen as resources for coping with stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. The following methods were used in the study: “Paranormal Belief Scale” by J. Tobacyk adapted by D. S. Grigorieva, a questionnaire to assess belief in superstitions by I. R. Abitov, a method of studying the level of subjective control by E. F. Bazhin, E. A. Golynkina and M. Etkind. The participants in the study were 148 students aged 18 to 24 years (123 women and 25 men) and 150 participants with completed higher education aged 25 to 66 years (129 women and 21 men). The graduates demonstrated a higher level of traditional religious faith and belief in psychic abilities, as well as a stronger internal locus of control in the sphere of failure, family relations and business relations. They are more religious and believe that some people have special abilities (such as levitation, telekinesis and telepathy). They have a developed feeling of internal control in negative events and situations, which results in a tendency to blame themselves for various failures, troubles and suffering. They also consider themselves more responsible for what happens in their family life. On the other hand, in the student group, negative correlation was found between their level of paranormal belief (according to J. Tobacyk’s scale), belief in superstitions (according to I. R. Abitov’s questionnaire) and their general internality, internality regarding achievement, failures and businessrelations. The more students believe in superstitions, the less they tend to take responsibility for a wide range of life situations, such as achievements and failures, including in professional activity.