Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 7, 2026

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
Published on: September 28, 2018
Extraterrestrial beliefs and experiences: an application of the theory of reasoned action
1School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
The authors expanded the applicability of I. Ajzen and M. Fishbein's (1980) theory of reasoned action by assessing the participants' beliefs, attitudes, and experiences related to sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and to alien abductions. The authors designed and administered a survey on UFO phenomena to 398 Canadian students. The survey contains items relating to each component of Ajzen and Fishbein's model, as well as scales that evaluate paranormal beliefs and social desirability. A majority of the sample believed in UFOs, although most had never seen one. However, only a minority believed in alien abductions--again, most without having had any reported experience. According to path analyses, UFO beliefs originated from societal forces rather than from personal experiences as the model would predict.
Related Concept Videos
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Theory of Attribution I: Correspondent Inference Theory
Magical Thinking
Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
Primary Appraisal:...
Actor-Observer Effect
Confirmation Biases