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Investigating Mediumship/Possession-Relevant Experiences: Contributions from a Feature-Based, Subject-Dependent
Everton De Oliveira Maraldi1,2, Ronald Fischer1,3, Maria Vitoria De Lima Varejão1,3
1D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Transcultural Psychiatry
|July 2, 2026
Summary
This study developed a new, culturally sensitive method to measure mediumship and possession experiences. Findings show these non-ordinary experiences are common in Brazil, highlighting the need for feature-based research.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cultural Anthropology
- Religious Studies
Background:
- Non-ordinary experiences like hearing voices or possession occur globally.
- Existing measurement tools lack cultural sensitivity and specific focus on mediumship/possession.
- There's a need for subject-centered, culturally informed instruments for these experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, feature-based, subject-dependent approach to measure mediumship/possession experiences.
- To create culturally sensitive items reflecting phenomenological features of these experiences.
- To assess the prevalence of mediumship/possession experiences in Brazil.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of dissociation and mediumship research in Brazil.
- Item pool creation and refinement with input from practitioners and religious leaders.
- Validation in a Brazilian population sample and prevalence estimation.
Main Results:
- Validated 10 key features of mediumship/possession-relevant experiences.
- Found high prevalence rates in Brazil, with some experiences reported by over 60% of participants.
- Demonstrated the utility of a feature-based, culturally informed measurement approach.
Conclusions:
- Feature-based, culturally sensitive methods are crucial for studying mediumship/possession.
- Mediumship/possession experiences are highly prevalent in Brazil.
- Further research should explore the phenomenology, prevalence, and cultural appraisals of these experiences.
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