A Qualitative Exploration of Beliefs in Psi-Phenomenon, Dissociative Experiences, and Synchronicity in Adults

Belief in psi phenomena—such as extrasensory perception and synchronicity—is often linked with dissociative tendencies like absorption, depersonalization, and altered states of consciousness. Through interviews with 11 Pakistani adults aged 18–50, four themes emerged: psi belief and perception, media as a catalyst for awareness and belief formation, dissociative tendencies and psi beliefs, and meaning making through synchronicity. Participants described synchronicity as a bridge that transforms fragmented experiences into coherent personal insights. The findings suggest that synchronicity may function as a psychic integrator of dissociative experiences within the Pakistani cultural context.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The current research design is rooted in an qualitative framework, aimed to understand how individuals make sense of anonymous or extraordinary experiences that surpass orthodox psychological explanations. The semi structured interviews were conducted with 11 adult participants, six male, and five females, aged ranges 18-50 years. These participants were selected through the purposive sampling technique. The semi structured interviews were conducted based on interview guide, which was developed to explore participant’s, personal experiences, beliefs, and interpretations related to dissociative experiences, psi phenomena and synchronicity. The interview guide consisted of nine open-ended questions. Data was analyzed through thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning embedded in personal notions and experiences. Four overarching themes of emerged: psi belief and perception, media as a catalyst for awareness and belief formation, dissociative tendencies and psi beliefs, meaning making and synchronicity and subthemes derived from the data. The findings of the present study showed that strong belief in PSI phenomena was often intertwined with dissociative tendencies, including absorption, depersonalization and altered states of consciousness. Participants described synchronicity as a meaning making bridge that transformed fragmented experiences into coherent personal insights. These findings highlight the psychological and cultural dimensions of belief in psi phenomena within the Pakistani context, suggesting that synchronicity may function as a psychic integrator of dissociative experiences.