"The sky is falling": Post-modern psychological dynamics between the "supernatural" and the technological.

• Grant number: 12/02884-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Social Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Wellington Zangari
• Grantee: Leonardo Breno Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psicologia (IP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The research aims to investigate the beliefs related to specific apocalyptic predictions and direct protagonists of anomalous experiences distinctively contemporary. The investigation also involves several psychosocial variables that contextualize these experiences and beliefs and print post-modern features as the conjunction of specific group arrangements, shared beliefs, folklore, urban legends, traditional religions, new age culture, among others. The timing of research is particularly appropriate because of the imminent date December 21, 2012, which is the object of diverse beliefs in global scale about the "doomsday", even among Brazilian groups that store provisions and implement other measures waiting for the alleged tragedy. The objective of this research is to unveil the psychosocial processes that build, maintain, justify, transform and/or nourish those mentioned experiences and beliefs, in their radical dimensions. The investigated contexts are selected with emphasis on geographic and psychosocial variability, covering wide range of national territory and various intersubjective characteristics. It will be used the ethnographic method, with extense forays in each context and the process of insertion of the researcher previously established, through its recently completed master's research. Thus, we intend to meet the need for a debated proper Latin American and Brazilian social psychology, trying to discuss these national contexts. In addition, anomalous experiences are relevant study objects themselves by their striking subjective dimensions, the wide gaps in knowledge that they signal on the human psychological functioning, and the specific clinical demands of their participants largely ignored by health professionals.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MARTINS, Leonardo Breno. On the trail of aliens: a psychological integrative proposal on \UFO\ and \paranormal\ experiences. 2015. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD) São Paulo.