Emotion regulation through experiences of psychic mediumship: A case study at a Norwegian hotel

Abstract

The aim of this case study was to explore the emotional experiences of individuals taking part in non-congregational psychic mediumistic services in Norway. A thematic analysis of interview materials from nine users of mediumistic practices identified an overall pattern of increased self-reported positive emotions and decreased self-reported negative emotions soon after their consultations with the medium. In a few cases, the participants reported increased negative emotions, which were linked to their inability to trust the medium or her delivery of unpleasant messages from the dead. The emotional goals and emotional change perceived by the participants were related to their relations with the deceased, their personal futures, and their expectations of an afterlife. The results of this study are discussed from the perspective of emotion regulation theory, with a focus on the individual and social aspects of the process of emotional change.