HW7: Chapter 3 (Final)

CHAPTER 3

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARY

This paper attempted to determine the different psychological effects of fortune telling to people.

The research designs used in this study is the descriptive research method wherein data from documents and interviews were used to answer the research question posed and discourse analysis method wherein the researcher is subjective in studying human mind and behavior. The research findings are the following:

1. The act of “repeated” emotions to a fortune teller is what makes the process so habit forming. It’s like a tranquilizer to reduce the fear of the unknown, but since the fear is never directly dealt with it never goes away, and so the client has to continue seeking advice.

2. A crime designed to financially control a victim can be made under the mask of delivering advice or aid. Victims of these cases are of any age and gender with a common purpose of seeking answers to their questions or asking for help in solving their problem in their life.

3.A long-term fraud or crime results in the total psychological manipulation of the victim, which separates them from any support from family or friends and keeps them very open or vulnerable to any suggestions given by the reader.

4. The positive psychological effects of fortune telling to people are: it helps to relieve anxiety and promotes positive thoughts; it gives a person a sense of security and confidence; belief in destiny helps render life a coherent narrative, which infuses goals with a greater sense of purpose.

5. The negative psychological effects of fortune telling to people are: People have compulsions to do fortune telling over and over again, often interfering with everyday life; it arises to the feeling of relaxation and laziness where people rely on predictions rather than hard work; it can arise to depression, mental disorder or symptoms of anxiety- tesion, excessive worry, trouble sleeping, obsessive thoughts and exhaustion.

6. Other effects includes: loss of concentration, lack of interest, mental disorders, hindering the development of an individual’s personality and one’s belief strengthens another’s.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions are drawn:

1. People may have different perceptions, understanding and reactions to objects or matters in the same way. It depends on how they think about it which produces feelings, which produces behaviors, which produces results.

2. All things or matters including fortune telling have positive and negative effects. A person should always have control and discipline because the outcome will always be dependent on the person holding these consequences.

RECOMMENDATIONS

            After drawing the conclusions of the study, the researcher hereby make the following suggestions/recommendations:

1. People choose joys and sorrows long before they are experienced by them. People should realize that it is important to fill one’s mind with what is desired to happen in the future. Therefore, some of those developed thoughts are bound to become actual experiences.

2. A person should always learn to be optimistic in all matters for it as well constitutes positive energy and way of life. An individual should not be dependent on fortune telling for the answers and happenings in life because destiny is held and shaped by the one’s self because our future is not yet set for the people are the ones creating it every moment, every second and by every thought and every choice.

             3. A person with a strong belief and who works with principles can avoid being absorbed into the dangerous circle of fortune telling.

References:

A.   Book

Irwin, H. J. (2009). The psychology of paranormal belief. Hertfordshire: University of Hertfordshire Press.

Boyce, T.E. & E.S. Geller (2002). Using the Barnum effect to teach psychology research methods. Teaching of Psychology, 29(4), 316-318.

Hyman, R., Cold reading: how to convince strangers that you know all about them. Skeptical Inquirer 1(2) (l977) 18-37

Marks, D. and Kammann, R., The Psychology of the Psychic. Prometheus, Buffalo, 1980

B.   Electronic Media

Carroll, R.T. (2005). The Forer effect. The Skeptic's Dictionary. Retrieved November 3,2012 from http://skepdic.com/forer.html.

Colvin, J. (2009, March 17). Psychic business is booming as recession deepens. Columbia News Service. Retrieved from http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu

“Fortune Telling” Retrieved October 5, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune-telling